1-^- 




HISTORY 



iSi 





MASSACHVSETTS 



11 ■ 




I With the compliments of 



BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS 



HISTORY 



OF THE 



Town of Princeton 



IN THE COUNTY OF WORCESTER 

AND 

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS 
1759-1915 



By 
FRANCIS EVERETT BLAKE 



VOLUME I 

NARRATIVE 



PRINCETON 
PUBLISHED BY THE TOWN 



I915 



VC\ 



March 4, 191 2. — Art. 20. Voted to accept the Act of the present Legislature 
authorizing the town to use the funds obtained from the sale of the Meeting House 
Hill Land for the preparation of History of the Town, and if there is any remainder 
it shall be devoted to the Town Library. Committee appointed, J. D. Gregory, 
M. C. Goodnow, J. C. F. Mirick, Rev. C. E. Reeves. 






" I have gon, and rid, and wrote, and sought and search'd with 
my own and friends' Eyes, to make what Discoveries I could 
therein. * * * I stand ready with a pence! in one hand and a 
Spunge in the other, to add, alter, insert, expunge, enlarge, and 
delete, according to better information. And if these my pains 
shall be found worthy to passe a second Impression, my faults 
I will confess with shame, and amend with Ihankfulnesse, to such 
as will contribute clearer Intelligence unto me." 

Fuller s " Worthies of England," 1662. 



p/^r 2'^ *k:'r 



Paper manufactured by the George W. Wheelwright Paper Company. 



PREFACE 

In planning the publication of some historical sketches 
of the town of Princeton twenty-five years ago, it was 
found that, unfortunately, the town papers had shared the 
fate of those of many other towns, a large proportion hav^- 
ing been lost in the past. There are no papers preserved 
of any kind bearing an earlier date than 1766. Of that 
date there is but one, and only twenty of a date earlier 
than 1770. The loss of these papers, and of the records 
of a few of the earliest town meetings, deprives us of 
much valuable information. As sources of information 
regarding the first settlement had evidently not been ex- 
hausted by the historians of the town a search was begun 
for items especially relating to the incorporation of the 
district and town, and for the names of the first residents, 
with the date of their settlement. The many references 
also to the "Farms" adjoining the East Wing of Rutland 
led to an investigation into their history and the origin 
of their titles. 

These items have been gathered only after diligent search 
in the Archives of the State, the Journals of the General 
Court, the Worcester Registry of Deeds and of Probate, 
the Records of the County Courts, newspapers of the 
eighteenth century, and various other storehouses of his- 
torical treasures. 

Although a few of the papers relating to the incorpora- 
tion of the district have been elsewhere published, it is 
deemed best to print all of the papers together, making a 
continuous narrative comprising all that can be obtained 
from public records. 

Two histories of the town have been published, one by 
Charles Theodore Russell (1838), and one by Rev. J. L. 
Hanaford (1852), which, however, are largely taken up 
with an account of the ecclesiastical dissensions arising 



iv Preface 

from the relation established by law between town and 
church. The lapse of time, however, since the publication 
of these histories and the larger scope of the present vol- 
ume may fully justify its publication. 

The preparation of this history, long delayed on account 
of the illness of the author, is due to his affectionate in- 
terest in his native town. This interest he has already 
exhibited by preparing for the New England Historic 
Genealogical Society a copy of the first Record Book of 
births, marriages and deaths in the town, and by repair- 
ing, arranging and classifying the town papers for the past 
one hundred years, making six large volumes which are 
now in the Goodnow Library, and also by preparing a 
Subject Index for the first book of Town Records, 

The author's acknowledgements are due to his friend, 
Mr. Franklin P. Rice, for invaluable aid In arranging 
material for the press, and also to his friend, Mr. William 
A. Emerson, for similar aid in collecting and arranging 
matter for the genealogical record, thus enabling him to 
carry out his original intention of presenting the genealogy 
of every family of both past and present residents. With- 
out the aid of these gentlemen it would have been impos- 
sible to bring this work to completion. It gives him 
pleasure to express his appreciation of all that has been 
done for him by various persons in the way of help and 
encouragement in this enterprise, and he also admits his 
indebtedness to the curators of public records, whose uni- 
form courtesy has been extremely helpful. 

It is hoped that, while the older people may find much 
of interest in the perusal of these volumes, the younger 
people also may take pleasure in becoming acquainted with 
the early history of their town, and with the men who 
have been prominent in its affairs. 

Boston, Mass., June 15, 1915. 



CONTENTS 



Page 



Preface iii 

Contents v 

List of Illustrations ix 

CHAPTER I 

The Town in 1915. Situation and area. Surface. Wachusett 
Mountain. Ponds and Streams. Climate. Soil. Land and 
Agricultural Products. Natural Productions. Wild Animals. 
Population. Health. Manufactures. Other Occupations. Re- 
ligious Organizations. Schools. Public Library. Newspaper. 
Telephone. Electric Lights. Communication. Geology. Name. 
Town Appropriations 1914. Table of Aggregates. Town Assets. 1-7 

CHAPTER II 

The Early Period. District of Prince Town. The first settlement. 
Nipnet or Nipmug County. Indians. Exploration. A new way. 
Land Purchases. Nipmuck Territory. Purchasers. Indian Deed. 
Delay in Occupation. Queen Anne's War. Return of the settlers. 
Title Worthless. Name of Rutland. Name of Associates. The 
New Township. Proprietors. First Birth. Sales and Transfers. 
East Wing. Father Ralle's War. Massacre in Rutland. Renewal 
of Settlement. New Survey. Gift to Rev. Mr. Prince. Pro- 
prietors' Records. French War 8-33 

CHAPTER III 

The Farms Adjoining. Province Grants. Watertown Farms. Gard- 
ner's Farms. Edward Wilson. John Frost. Benjamin Hough- 
ton. Blagrove's Farm. Muzzy's Farm. Potash Farm. May- 
hew's Farm. Allen's Farms. Willard's Farm. Kneeland's Farm. 
Stevens' Farm. Johnson's or Hartwell's Farm. Joshua Wilder's 
Farm 34-73 

CHAPTER IV 

Early Inhabitants. The Early Settlers. Identity. Dates of Occu- 
pation. First Settlers. Doctor Harvey. A Protest. List of 
Settlers, 1761-1771. Census of 1790, valuation list U. S. Direct 
Tax, 1798 74-91 

V 



vi Contents 



CHAPTER V 

Incorporation. The District and Town. Petition of "The Farms" ^^^^ 

Protest. Rejoinder. Report. The Town. Boundaries No Town. 
Change of line between Westminster and Princeton 92-108 

CHAPTER VI 

The Reverend Thomas Prince. Town Name. Birth. The Old 
South Church. Ordination. Salary. Residences in Boston. Plan 
for the Day. Quality as a Minister. One Notable Incident. Liter- 
ary Ability. Publications. Earthquakes and Lightning Rods. 
Psalms. Rutland Lands. Gift for Services. Death. Preamble 
to Will. Prince Library. Life's Work 1 09-1 21 

CHAPTER VII 

Ecclesiastical History. First Difficulties, Meetings at Private 
Houses. Mr. Harrington's Sermon. The First Meeting House. 
Location. The Raising. Description. Dignifying the Pew 
Ground. Protest. First Stove. Choir. Town Meetings. Horse 
Sheds. Church Organization. The Covenant, Princetown. Can- 
didates for Preaching. Rev. Timothy Fuller. Ordination. New 
Covenant. Gifts. Bible. Political Differences. Mr. Fuller's 
Reply. Action of The Town. Suit against the Town. Supplies. 
Ineffectual Efforts. Stocks. Rev. Thomas Crafts. Rev. Joseph 
Russell. New Meeting House. The Raising. Decoration. Stove. 
New Meeting House Committee's Report. Rev. James Murdock. 
Rev. Samuel Clarke. Presbyterian Church. Rev. John P. Cowles. 
Union Congregational Church. First Parish. Rev. Elijah De- 
mond. Third Edifice. Succeeding ministers to 1915. The Baptists. 
The Baptist Church. Methodist Church. The Universalists. . . . 122-178 

CHAPTER VIII 

Town Government. First Town Meeting. Lost Records. A Pro- 
test. Subsequent Town Meetings. Protest. List of Selectmen, 
1760 to 1915. Town Clerks. Treasurers. Representatives. As- 
sessors. Moderators. Constables 179-199 

CHAPTER IX 

Education. Requirement. First Schoolmaster. School Districts. 
Families of Early Settlers by Districts. Schools in Private Houses. 
Centre District. School Houses. Stoves. Centre District Di- 
vided. Care of the Schools. Instructions to School Committees. 
Expenses. Distinguishing Terms. Teachers. Boarding of 
Teachers. English and Classical Schools. High School. School 
Superintendents. School Committee 200-217 



Contents vii 

CHAPTER X 

Page 

Military History. French and Indian War. Revolutionary War. 
Minute Men. Training Band. Records of the Military Company 
in Princeton. Capt. Boaz Moore's Company. List of " Lexington 
Alarm " Men from Princeton. List of soldiers buried in Princeton. 
Pensions. Act of 1818. Town Military records 1774-1814. 
Letter of Capt. John Jones to his Wife Mary in Princeton. Petition 
of former British Soldiers to be Naturalized. Muster Roll of Capt. 
Andrew Whitney's Company. How I found Oliver Mosman. The 
Shays Rebellion. Capt. Abraham Gale. Capt. Henry Gale; his 
Arrest, Trial, Conviction and Sentence to Death. Reprieved and 
Pardoned. List of Rebels taking the Oath of Allegiance. Treat- 
ing. Mexican War. Civil War. List of Soldiers in the Civil 
War. John D. Mirick Post, G.A.R. List of Princetown Soldiers 
who Died in the Service, 1861-1865 218-269 

CHAPTER XI 

Biography. Hon. Moses Gill. Gill Mansion in Princeton. Robbery 
of Plate. Funeral. Inventory of Personal Estate. Ward Nicho- 
las Boylston. David Everett. Edward Savage. Daniel Davis. 
Edward Augustus Goodnow 270-301 

CHAPTER XII 

Diary Kept by Elizabeth Fuller, Daughter of Rev. Timothy 
Fuller of Princeton. Family of Rev. Timothy Fuller. Reun- 
ion at the Old Homestead in Princeton 302-323 

CHAPTER XIII 

Wachusett Legends. Mount Wachusett. Lucy Keyes, the Lost 
Child of Wachusett. Robert Keyes. Loss of the Child. Disre- 
garding Tradition. Petition for Relief. Rejection. The Letter of 
1827. Variation in Name. Tilly Littlejohn. Chronology of 
Tilly Littlejohn. Analysis. Redemption Rock. Mt. Adams Cel- 
ebration. Whittier's Poem: Monadnock from Wachusett 324-349 

CHAPTER XIV 

Miscellany. Princeton as a Summer Resort. Wachusett House. 
Prospect House, now the Princeton Inn. Mountain House. Grand 
View House. Mt. Pleasant House. Howard House. Harrington 
Farm. Pratt's Cottage. Woodland Cottage. Grimes House. 
Pine Hill House. Fernside. Summit House. Innholders and 
Taverns. Old Stores. Town Hay Scales. Market Wagons. 
Stage Lines through Princeton. Postmasters and Post Offices. 



viii Contents 

Page 
List of Princeton Post Offices in tlie United States. Railroads. 
Telephone Service. Ice Business in Princeton. Street Lighting. 
Cemeteries. Distances from Princeton Centre. Chair Manufac- 
turing in Princeton. Roper Lumber and Box Company 350-374 

CHAPTER XV 

Gleanings. Freemasonry. Good Templars. Ancient Order of United 
Workmen. The Washington Benevolent Society. The Princeton 
Dramatic Club. Lyceum. Princeton Club. Princeton Farmer's 
Club. Princeton Grange No. 74. Patrons of Husbandry. Sana- 
torium. Flora of Princeton. Birds of Princeton. Bibliography 
of Princeton. Letters relating to Early Records of Rutland. 
Goodnow Memorial Building. Bagg Hall. Historical Data 375~4I4 

Index 415-428 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 



Francis Everett Blake Frontispiece 

Princeton from East Jones Hill opposite page i 

Princeton from the Old Wachusett House " " 5 

Wachusett from near Residence of T. H. Skinner.. " " 54 

Petition for Incorporation " " 96 

Rev. Thomas Prince " " 109 

Title-page OF Discourse BY Rev. Timothy Harrington " " 122 

Princeton Center from Wachusett House " " 170 

Signatures of Town Clerks " " 191 

Princeton School Houses — 1797-8-1906 " " 216 

Signatures of Townsmen in 1776 " " 221 

Lieut.-Gov. Moses Gill " " 270 

Residence of Moses Gill " " 271 

Sarah (Prince) Gill " " 272 

Rebecca (Boylston) Gill " " 273 

Ward Nicholas Boylston " " 278 

Edward Savage " " 294 

Sarah (Seaver) Savage ant> Edward Savage " " 296 

Edward A. Goodnow " " 299 

Princeton Center and Wachusett " " 325 

The Nine O'CLOCK Mail " " 362 

Princeton Village from the East " " 369 

Cemetery and the Old Pound " " 369 

Town Hall and Goodnow Memorl\l Buildings " " 403 



HISTORY OF PRINCETON 



CHAPTER I 
THE TOWN IN 191 5 

Situation and Area. Princeton, a town in Worcester 
County, Massachusetts, is situated about forty-eight miles 
north of west from Boston, fourteen miles north of Wor- 
cester, and about ten miles southwest from Fitchburg. 
It is bounded on the north by Westminster, on the east by 
Leominster and Sterling, on the south by Holden and 
Rutland, and on the west by Rutland and Hubbardston. 
The township is north of the center of the County, and 
about equi-distant from its eastern and western boundaries, 
and occupies a nearly central position in the State as 
measured from Cape Cod to New York. Its geographical 
position is (at Wachusett Mountain) 42° 29' 21-21" north 
latitude, 71° 53' 33-885" west longitude. Its present area 
is about 23,000 acres or 36.5 square miles. 

Surface. The general formation of this locality is 
rugged and uneven, with abrupt elevations and depres- 
sions in general, and exceptional plains and meadows, 
giving diversity and natural beauty to the scenery. The 
principal hills are Little Wachusett, about 1560 feet, and 
Pine Hill 1440 feet, both situated in the northerly part of 
the town, the southern portion being lower with more 
meadow land. 

Wachusett Mountain, the principal elevation and most 
striking natural feature in the town, rises to a height of 
2018 feet. This is in the extreme northerly part, near the 
boundary line of Westminster. With the exception of the 



2 History of Princeton 

range in the westerly part of the State, of which Mt. Grey- 
lock is the main eminence, Wachusett is the highest eleva- 
tion within its boundaries, and its isolation affords from 
the summit an unobstructed view over a large part of 
Massachusetts and some portions of adjoining states. The 
ocean at Boston, the Green Mountains in Vermont, and 
elevations in New Hampshire are visible in clear weather, 
while the surrounding country within a radius of seventy- 
five miles is spread before the observer. The ascent to the 
summit is easy, both by carriage road and paths, and the 
mountain top is visited by large numbers during the sum- 
mer season. A good hotel is maintained here during the 
warmer months of the year. The mountain, including a 
tract of 3000 acres, was made a State Reservation April 17, 
1900, by Act of the Legislature. 

Ponds and Streams. On account of the elevation of the 
township there are no streams of considerable volume in 
Princeton. The waters have their origin on the height of 
the land near the mountain, and flow east and west. 
South Wachusett Brook is perhaps the most important 
stream, and with Cobb Brook flows into Quinapoxet Pond 
at the southeast corner of the town. This pond is the 
largest body of water wholly within the town limits. 
Wachusett Pond at the north lies mostly in Westminster, 
East Wachusett Brook is joined with Babcock Brook and 
flows into Still River, which runs on the boundary line 
between Princeton and Sterling for about 600 rods. Other 
small streams flow into Ware River at the southwest, and 
this continues to the Connecticut. Woodward, Wachu- 
sett, Jones, Turkey Swamp, Baker's, Sawin and Gardner 
meadows are the principal marshy tracts. The area of 
the meadow land in the town is estimated at 822 acres. 

Climate. The climate of Princeton, while not varying 
in great degree from that of the average of central Massa- 
chusetts, is, perhaps, from the elevated situation, more 
pronounced in alternation of heat and cold and in the 
extreme degrees of its temperature. The winters are bleak, 
with high winds, while the extreme heat in summer of the 



The Town in igi^ 3 

lower townships is here tempered with refreshing breezes. 
Although trying to some constitutions, in general it can be 
said that the atmosphere is pure and bracing, and con- 
ducive to good health and longevity. The yearly rainfall 
is about forty inches; the temperature is about 45° average 
for the year; 22° in the winter, 65° in the summer. 

Soil. A large portion of the surface of the town is to-day 
uncultivated, and some of the original tillage land has been 
abandoned to nature or the mere raising of grass or to 
grazing. The causes which have affected the farming 
interests throughout New England have operated here with 
effects in strong contrast to those of fifty and one hundred 
years ago. The elevated situation of much of the land, as 
well as intractable soil, together with sharp alternations of 
temperature, made the cultivation of the more susceptible 
products difficult, and called forth the energies of a former 
generation, representatives of an element rare at the present 
time. Half a century ago many fine farms were tilled 
in the more favorable locations, and a few are maintained 
at present. Many of the abandoned farmsteads are now 
occupied by summer residents, and fine buildings have 
been erected for occupation during the warmer season. 

Land and Agricultural Products. The last state census 
(1905) gives the valuation of farm and agricultural prod- 
ucts as follows: land, $327,943; buildings, $223,139; 
machinery and implements, $35,674; domestic animals, 
$114,770; fruit trees and vines, $22,553; mines, quarries, 
etc., $880 = $724,943. 

Agricultural Products: dairy, $72,433; poultry, $9,892; 
meats, $1688; animal products, $14,612; cereals, $300; 
fruits, berries and nuts, $7,804; hay, straw and fodder, 
$85,690; vegetables, $7,540; wood products, $22,368; 
food products, $i,773 = $224,543. 

Natural Productions. These do not vary in great degree 
from those of the larger tract of central Massachusetts, 
except that perhaps in the generally elevated situation of 
this town some of the flora and less hardy vegetable pro- 
ductions are not found. The pine, chestnut, maple, oak, 



4 History of Princeton 

walnut, birch, ash and beech are among the trees growing 
here. Most of the common wild flowers are found in great 
profusion, the mayflower and the mountain laurel being 
abundant. 

Wild Animals. The larger wild animals of the earlier 
period have been exterminated, but the smaller common 
pests exist — the catamount, skunk, woodchuck, fox and 
the smaller rodents. Rattlesnakes are rare, but black 
snakes and the common striped snake are found. The 
ponds and streams are so few that fish are not abundant. 
The common birds are in evidence and are migratory as 
in other parts of Massachusetts. 

Population. The number of inhabitants in Princeton 
has in general declined since 1840, from 1,347 in that year 
to 904 at the last census. Of this, 238 males and 203 
females are single, and 206 males and 193 females married. 
There are 246 families in the town. The legal voters 
number 241. 

Health. The statistics compare favorably with those 
of other towns in Massachusetts. 

Manufactures. There are five manufacturing estab- 
lishments in the town — four private, and one incorporated. 
The amount of capital invested is $90,150; value of stock 
used, $37,372; value of goods produced, $113,097; 
persons employed, 76; wages paid, $26,023; salaries, 
$2,580. 

Other Occupations. There are 99 persons engaged in 
agriculture; 30 in transportation; 91 laborers; 18 in trade; 
10 in government employ; 277 in domestic service; and 
22 in professional occupations. 

Religious Organizations. Only one church, the Con- 
gregational, is now in existence. 

Schools. There are six schools maintained, at an ex- 
pense of $4,722. The Superintendent is paid $300 for 
services in the Town. Number of school children, 135; 
number of teachers, 11. 

The Public Library contains 6,201 volumes; value, 
$4,000. The endowment is $7,000, and the income $360. 




o 

Pi 
w 

o 
o 

H 
U 

o 



The Town in igi^ 5 

The value of the building is $25,000. Salary of Librarian, 

$115. 

Newspaper. There is one newspaper The Laborer's 
Friend published in town. 

Telephone service places the town in possession of local 
and outside communications. 

Electric Lights are in operation in the streets, and are 
supplied to private residences. 

Conimunication. The Peterborough and Worcester 
Branch of the Boston and Maine Railroad passes through 
the southwestern part of the town. 

Geology. The foundation of the soil in Princeton is 
gneiss, one of the primary rocks of the earth's surface. 
This rock is composed mostly of quartz, mica and feldspar, 
with a lesser admixture of iron, which presents in places 
a rusty appearance. Otherwise stated, the formation is 
a coarse or uneven granite, the main constituents of which 
are silica, alumina and potassium. There are some evi- 
dences of slate formation in places, sand and other debris 
of alluvial action are evident in the lowlands, while boulders 
and relics of the drift period are abundant. 

Name. The town received its name in 1759 from the 
Rev. Thomas Prince of Boston, a distinguished divine and 
writer who was born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, in 
1687 and died in Boston in 1758. Mr. Prince was one 
of the proprietors of the tract, and was interested in the 
formation and settlement of the town. 



History of Princeton 



TOWN APPROPRIATIONS, 1914 

Highways and bridges $6,450 . 00 

State road i , 1 50 . 00 

State road extension 700 . 00 

Schools 5.525 . 00 

Salary of Superintendent 300 . 00 

Transportation 600 . 00 

Medical inspection 75-00 

Salaries of Town officers 1 ,000 . 00 

Fire department 500 . 00 

Support of poor 700 . 00 

Care of cemeteries 1 50 . 00 

State aid 350 . 00 

Interest on debts and loans 900 . 00 

Salary of Librarian 1 15 . 00 

Observance of Memorial Day 100 . 00 

Gypsy and brown tail moth extermination 300.00 

Street lights 750 . 00 

Board of health 200 . 00 



Total, including other expenses $21,639.00 



TABLE OF AGGREGATES 

1. Number of residents assessed on property, individuals 221, all others, 
45, Total 266. 

2. Number of non-residents assessed on property, individuals 107, all 
others 47, Total 154. 

3. Number of persons assessed on property 420, poll tax only, 133, Total 

553- 

4. Number of male polls assessed, 284. 

5. Tax on each male poll, $2.00. 

6. Value of assessed personal estate, excluding resident bank stock, 
$583,042. Resident bank stock, none. Total $583,042. 

7. Value of assessed real estate buildings, excluding land, $534,525. 
Land, excluding buildings, $367,561. Total, $902,086. 

8. Total valuation of assessed estate April i, 1914, $1,485,128. 

9. Tax for State, County and Town purposes, including overlaying: 

On personal estate $9,620.19 

On real estate 14,884.42 

On polls 568.00 

Total $25,072.61 



The Town in 1Q15 



TABLE OF AGGREGATES, Continued 

10. Rate of total tax on $1000, $16.50. 

11. Number of horses assessed, 272. 

12. Number of cows assessed, 599. 

13. Number of sheep assessed, 19. 

14. Number of neat cattle other than cows assessed, 274. 

15. Number of swine assessed, 47. 

16. Number of dwelling houses assessed, 250. 

17. Number of acres of land assessed, 21,423. 

18. Number and value of fowls assessed, No. 4,027, value, $2,416. 

TOWN ASSETS 

Amount remaining in General Fund .... $3,092 . 25 

Deducted from appropriations 18,546 . 75 

County tax i ,974 . 00 

State tax 4,287 . 50 

State highway tax 157.96 

Overlay 1 06 . 40 

Total $25,072 . 61 

Moth tax 673 . 43 



CHAPTER II 
THE EARLY PERIOD 

District of Prince Town. On October, 1759, certain 
tracts of land known as Rutland East Wing, and Water- 
town Farms, as well as others in Worcester County, Mass- 
achusetts, comprising about fifteen thousand acres, were, by 
Act of the General Court, made a District, to which the 
name of Prince Town was given. This allotment, with sev- 
eral additions made at later times, formed the present town 
of Princeton. At the time this Act was passed the storm 
and stress period of the early settlement of New England 
had passed. The fierce conflicts with the aborigines had 
ended in the triumph of the white man, and in the fierce 
struggles with the forces of nature the powers of sturdy 
humanity and of civilization had prevailed. The territory 
now included within the boundaries of this town was one 
of the few tracts in the State which was unoccupied at 
that time. 

Princeton, in its early history, can present little to dis- 
tinguish it among the groups of older townships by which 
it is surrounded, its existence as a municipality cover- 
ing a period only of a little more than one hundred and 
fifty years. The stories so often repeated in the histories 
of the older towns of the State, of the methods and habits 
of colonial life, the struggles for existence against the 
forces of nature and the attacks of a savage foe, with 
provisions for the security of property and rights against 
the encroachments of power, have little place in the annals 
of Princeton, which attained its corporate existence after the 
greater part of Massachusetts had been alloted and secured, 
and after the period of Indian warfare had passed. 

The settlement of this and other places at this time was 

8 



The Early Period 9 

the natural outcome of the earUer New England energy 
and enterprise, which was now quieting down to the con- 
templation of possession and improvement, the spirit of 
unrest and the propensity to acquirement proving as strong 
motives as some of the higher elements with which we are 
perhaps too much inclined to invest the acts of our ances- 
tors. Some of the qualities seem to stand out in marked 
contrast to the characteristics of the present age, but it 
is probable that the emergencies of the time developed 
them into prominence and activity, and that a stress of 
circumstances would again bring forth these or similar 
powers to meet the necessities. There is a strain in every 
generation which comes to the front when the alarm of 
danger or the call for assistance is sounded. 

The first settlement of Europeans within the limits of 
the present State of Massachusetts was at Plymouth in 
1620, and nine years later that of Salem was made. Boston 
was founded in 1630, and various other places in the sur- 
rounding country were established within the next twenty- 
five years. Soon the course of expansion extended into 
the region to the westward, though in several directions. 
On the northerly line Lancaster, now comprising several 
towns, was purchased of the Indians in 1643. Mendon, 
at the south, was founded in 1659. In the central line 
Worcester and Oxford followed, and further to the west 
Brookfield, and so on to Springfield and Deerfield, and into 
Connecticut. 

Nipnet or Nipmug Country. To the inhabitants of 
the first settlements of the colony of the Massachusetts 
Bay all of the territory to the westward was known by 
the general name of the Nipnet or Nipmug country, the 
authorities having but little definite understanding of the 
extent of the tribe of Indians bearing that name. Gover- 
nor Winthrop, in his journal, under date of January 27, 
1 63 1, gives the same characterization of this country when 
he describes a trip made into the interior by himself and 
others. Going up the Charles River above Watertown at 
a point at or near the present Waltham " they went up 



10 History of Princeton 

a very high rock from whence they might see all over 
Neipnett." From this rock they espied " a very high hill 
due west about forty miles off," which hill was Wachusett 
Mountain, doubtless then, at least, unknown by that name 
to the colonists.^ 

Indians. Although it seems probable that the Nipnets, 
once a large and powerful tribe, ruled over this whole 
territory, yet the Nipmuck country, later described by 
Gookin and other reliable authorities, was practically 
confined to what is now the southern half of Worcester 
County, extending into Connecticut. Nipnet signifies 
" fresh water country," and one writer says that the 
various tribes of Indians in that vicinity have often been 
classed together under the general name of Nipnets, i.e., 
all fresh water Indians. And there is not wanting evi- 
dence that the Quabaugs, the Washakums, Nashaways, 
Wachusetts and others, were more or less nearly allied 
either by blood or by marriage, or by both, but it is certain 
that they never acknowledged allegiance to one local head 
chieftain. 

The Quabaugs made their headquarters near Brookfield 
and the Nashaways lived north of the Nipnets near Lan- 
caster. These were sometimes called Waschakums, from 
a large settlement of the tribe near the ponds of that name 
in Sterling, and sometimes called Wachusetts from the 
stronghold in the mountain of that name in Princeton. 

Exploration. As the spirit of adventure developed 
among the colonists, and their desire to explore the country 
increased, or the wish to remove from the growing towns 
on the coast led them to seek new locations, their knowledge 
of the abode of the various Indian tribes and the territory 
which they claimed as their own became clearer. 

In 1 63 1 John Winthrop and his associates first heard 
from some visiting Indians of the great river — Connecti- 
cut — to the westward with its fertile valleys. Almost 
immediately not only adv'enturers but some of the best 
of the settlers directed their feet along the then unfamiliar 
paths, or followed the well-defined Indian trails, with the 

' This rock now known as Boston Rock. 



The Early Period ii 

hope of finding more promising surroundings than were 
presented on the coast. New settlements were projected 
and developed in a surprisingly short time, considering the 
many obstacles which had to be encountered. In 1633 
John Oldham and others journeyed over the wild and 
undeveloped country into Connecticut by paths probably 
never before trodden by the white man, and subject to the 
unknown perils of an unknown land. Other groups fol- 
lowed very soon to explore this western country. Large 
companies from Watertown, Cambridge and Dorchester 
journeyed to Connecticut and there began new settlements. 
In 1635 William Pynchon and associates went from Rox- 
bury to the Connecticut River and soon laid the foundation 
of what is now the flourishing city of Springfield. The 
" Old Connecticut Path," of which the colonists had some 
knowledge as early as 1630, passed through Cambridge, 
Waltham, thence through South Framingham, Hopkinton, 
Grafton, Dudley, Sturbridge to Woodstock and on to 
Hartford. It was a branch of this path which passed 
westward through Brookfield to Springfield. 

A new way became known as early as 1648, as Winthrop 
records in his Journal, in that year: " This year a new way 
was found out to Connecticut by Nashaway which avoids 
much of the hilly way." Whether this path branched off, 
as is thought by some, from the earlier Connecticut path 
perhaps near Sudbury, and passed through what is now 
Lancaster, Rutland, and New Braintree to Springfield, it 
is difficult to decide, but the inference is drawn from this 
statement of Winthrop that this northern way had not 
been in use to any extent by the English previous to the 
year 1648. 

Lancaster, which was settled in 1653, had been obliged 
to build roads, or more properly speaking, paths, to bring 
the settlement into closer touch with Sudbury and other 
towns, and these paths would naturally be utilized and 
form a portion of the long road from the coast. It is 
possible that instead of passing through Princeton it may 
have gone south of that line and passed through Holden 



12 History of Princeton 

and thence to Quabaug Pond in West Brookfield, or this 
Holden route may have been established at a later date. 
The Bay Path, so often referred to, was laid out in 1670, 
and passed through Marlborough and Worcester to Brook- 
field, and on to the River, By means, therefore, of these 
travelled paths the general character of this part of the 
colony became somewhat known, but there was no at- 
tempt at making a settlement in the region about the 
mountain. There was no town settled for many years 
between Sudbury or Lancaster and Brookfield. 

Land Purchases. By the year 1680 settlements had 
been commenced, and as the desire of the colonists for 
extending their domains increased, the General Court of 
the Colony, acknowledging the inherent rights of the 
Indian tribes as owners of the soil, had purchased many 
tracts of land in the different localities, some of them em- 
bracing many square miles in area. Individuals had little 
difficulty in obtaining grants of the land thus pur- 
chased, and in cases where they had traded directly 
with the Indians, the Colony very freely confirmed the 
title. 

Nipmuck Territory. In pursuance of this general policy 
the General Court in 1681 appointed William Stoughton 
and Joseph Dudley, Esquires, a committee to negotiate, 
in behalf of the Colony, with the Nipmugs (Nipmucks) for 
their territory, the name Nipmuck still being applied to 
this neighborhood. In the first report of progress which 
these gentlemen rendered they stated that " the northern 
part near Wachusett is still unpurchased, and persons yet 
scarcely to be found meet to be treated with thereabouts." 
In other words they had not been able to find the true 
owners of this northern part, which suggests a long dis- 
persion of the tribes once identified with its occupancy 
and ownership. A report made by this committee a few 
months later indicates decided progress in the search for 
those who were thought to hold title to the lands. After 
referring to the vicinity of Marlborough and Sherburne 
they say, " The northerne part, adjoyning to Nashaway is 



The Early Period 13 

found the best land, most meadowed and capable of setle- 
ment, which land, except a small tract that Hananamesit 
desired to be kept by the Natick Indians, may, wee sup- 
pose, vpon reasonable termes, be so farr as respects the 
Indian Clayme, taken into the Countreys lands, which wee 
offer our advise as best to be donne, least the matter grow 
more difficult by delays." ^ 

One tract, perhaps not now clearly identified, of large 
extent, was purchased for the sum of £30 and a coat, while 
another tract 50 miles long and 20 miles broad was bought 
for the snug sum of £50, delivered in cash to the 
supposed owners, or at least to the representatives of 
the Nipmucks, who appeared to have some claims upon 
proprietorship. 

But notwithstanding the advice of the excellent com- 
mittee the Colony made no move towards purchasing this 
" northern part adjoining to Nashaway," and it remained 
for individuals to take the first steps toward the purchase 
of a portion of it. Whether the prominent men identified 
with this purchase were restless in the confines of their own 
town and anxious to expand and enlarge those borders, 
or whether they were actuated by the same spirit of specu- 
lation which in every age prevails, may not be determined, 
but it is true that Lancaster men, with a few associates, 
reached out their hands for a bit of this territory and 
secured a tract, reported to be twelve miles square, for the 
sum of £22^1 — about 10 cents for 100 acres. 

There are many deeds upon record showing conveyances 
of land by representatives of various Indian tribes, for 
which valuable compensation was made. The valuation 
of these lands as indicated by the deeds may seem ridicu- 
lously small to the present reader, but the value of the 
dollar in that day was far greater than that of the 
dollar of to-day. One historian asserts that the price paid 
the Indians for the land in a certain town was fully up to 
the price set upon the individual lots sold to the settlers 
by the proprietors. 

' Mass. Bay Records, V'ol. V, page 242. 



14 History of Princeton 

Purchasers. The majority of the purchasers of the 
tract referred to above were of Lancaster; the two Willard 
Brothers, their brother-in-law, Cyprian Stevens, and 
Joseph Rowlandson, the minister of the town, with others 
of less prominence; and these purchasers in a general way 
explored their purchase, noted its streams and ponds, its 
hills and valleys, following, it may be, the trails of the 
Indians as well as the " path " now somewhat worn and 
well-defined by the travel between the Bay settlement and 
the interior. And is it not probable that in some of 
their expeditions they stepped aside from the beaten path 
and ascended the mountain to view the country? Per- 
haps they were the first, or among the first white men to 
climb its rugged sides, now so easily travelled by means 
of well-known paths and well-made roads. 

Indian Deed. The first step showing concerted action 
looking towards the occupation of the territory under con- 
sideration appears in a deed dated December 22nd, 1686, 
recorded in Middlesex Registry, Vol. XVI, page 511, under 
date of April 14th, 1714. 

By this deed Joseph Trask alias Puagastion of Penni- 
cook, Job alias Pompomamay of Natick, and Simon 
Pitacum alias Wananacompan of Wamasick, Sosowonow 
of Natick, and James Wiser alias Qualapunit of Natick for 
the sum of twenty-three pounds, conveyed to Henry 
Willard, Joseph Rowlandson, Joseph Foster, Benjamin 
Willard and Cyprian Stevens, " a Certain Tract of Lands, 
medows, swamps. Timbers, Entervailes, containing Twelve 
mile square, according to the buts and bounds, as followeth, 
viz: — The name in General being Naguag, The South 
Corner butting upon Muscopaug Pond, and running North 
to Quenibeck and to Wonketopick, and so running upon 
Gte Wachusett which is the North Corner, so running nor 
west to Walamanumpscook, and so to quaquanunawick 
a little pond and so to ' Asnaconcomick ' pond which is 
the nor west corner. And so running South and so to 
Musshauge a great swamp, so to Sasaketasick which is the 
South corner. And so running East to Pascatickquage 



The Early Period 15 

and so to Ahampatimshauge a little Pond, and so to Sum- 
pauge Pond and so to Muscopauge pond which is the 
East Corner." ^ 

Delay in Occupation. The condition of political affairs 
in the colonies at the time of this purchase and for several 
subsequent years appears to have been a sufficient reason 
for delay in carrying out any plans formed by the pro- 
prietors for the settlement or sale of the land. The 
abrogation of the first charter of the colony by King James 
II in 1686 was soon followed by the appointment of Sir 
Edmund Andros as Governor of New England, his arrival 
occurring in December of that year. This appointment, 
which possibly at first promised favorably to the colonies, 
proved exceedingly embarrassing and unsatisfactory. 
Restless under the new administration, smarting under the 
blow of the dissolution of the charter, the people gladly 
availed themselves of the confusion existing in England, 
anticipated the accession to the throne of William of 
Orange, and violently deposed Andros from his position 
in April, 1688. It was not until 1692 that the second 
charter was secured, and in the meantime hostilities be- 
tween France and England had been declared, and for 
seven or eight years the colonies were in the midst of the 
excitement, anxiety and uneasiness appertaining to war, 
giving of their means, their men and their energy to help 
forward the cause of England. 

Queen Anne's War. After the close of the war in 1698 
comparative quiet reigned in the country for a few years, 
but in 1702 the lull in the strife was succeeded by another 
war known as Queen Anne's, which for ten or more years 
left its disturbing influence upon the country, embarrass- 
ing its progress in every direction, and hindering the growth 
of the new as well as of the older settlements. 

Lands in the regions beyond the bounds of civilization 

* The original deed is not in existence, and the above copy and that on the 
Proprietors books do not agree in the spelling of the Indian names. The 
latter has Wananapan, Quanitick, etc. Simon Pitacum apparently did not 
sign the deed. 



1 6 History of Princeton 

were practically of no value while these disturbances 
prevailed. The events of that period of New England 
history between the years 1675 and 1713 were sufficient 
to cripple all business activity and to strike a blow at all 
progressive movements. Lancaster, Worcester, North- 
field, Brookfield and other towns had suffered severely 
from depredation of the Indians during King Philip's and 
the subsequent wars. New settlements begun with a good 
degree of energy were almost depopulated or entirely 
abandoned. 

Return of the Settlers. But upon the close of Queen 
Anne's War in 17 13 confidence was somewhat restored. 
The dangers which had threatened public and private 
enterprise were seemingly arrested if not removed, and the 
towns over which had hung the clouds of sorrow, fear and 
desolation began to assume new life and activity. The 
former residents turned once more to the cultivation of 
their abandoned or neglected farms, and new adventurers 
cast their lot with the old. However, with the experience 
of the past years and the uncertainty of the future, it was 
not strange that the growth of these settlements was com- 
paratively slow. It was at this time — perhaps the only 
opportune time since the purchase in 1686 — that the pro- 
prietors of Naquag and their heirs considered the subject 
of opening the land for settlement and making the property 
a better paying investment than it hitherto had proved. 
Although the original purchasers had secured a deed from 
the Indians who claimed that " they only had power to 
convey and alienate the same," they had not acquired any 
confirmatory title from the authorities of the Colony, who 
held possession by virtue of a charter granted by the King. 
It is also true that the whole territory known as the Nip- 
mug Country of which this tract doubtless formed a part 
was sold by Sholan, the Sagamore. 

Title Worthless. The title, therefore, was practically 
worthless, and the heirs of the original purchasers sought 
relief from the General Court, which passed an Act on the 
23rd of February, 17 14, confirming to the sons and grand- 



The Early Period 17 

sons of Major Simon Willard and their associates, the orig- 
inal tract, with the exception of 1000 acres belonging to 
the Honorable Samuel Sewall. It docs not clearly appear 
why these lands were confirmed to all the children and 
representatives of the deceased children of Major Willard, 
embracing as it did some persons not included in the 
original purchase. This act provided " that within seven 
years there then be sixty families settle thereon and suffi- 
cient Land reserved for a Gospel Ministry and Schooling. 
And that the Grant shall encrouch upon no former Grant 
or Grants, nor exceed the Quantity of Twelve Miles Square. 
The town to be called Rutland, & to ly to the County of 
Middlesex." 

Name of Rutland. In reference to the naming of the 
township Judge Sewall says in his Diary under date of 
Feb. 23-24, 1713-14: " This Court a large township, of 
12 miles square, is granted near Wadchuset; out of which 
my 1,000 Acres are excepted. I was surpris'd, not having 
seen it, till 'twas pass'd by the Deputies. Gov^ is uneasy 
till the word Associats be inserted. Will have it call'd 
Rutland: I objected because that was the name of a 
Shire. The Chief Justice said 'twas not convenient except 
the Land was Red. But the Gov'^ would not be diverted. 
I suppose the quantity might be one thing inclin'd his 
Excellency to this Name." ^ 

Judge Sewall's special interest in this arose from his 
ownership of the 1,000 acres excepted in the Act of the 
General Court. This plot was originally granted by the 
Colony in 1681 to the six youngest children of Major 
Simon Willard, in consideration of the distinguished and 
unremunerated services of the father, lately deceased. 
This tract, called Sewall's Farms, was in the northerly 
part of the present town of Rutland, and embraced much 
excellent farming land. In March 1684-85 the Willards 
obtained from Thomas Dublett and wafe, Sarah, Indians, 
a release of all their (presumed) right in the premises, 
upon the payment of £2.10, and in 1693 the elder brother, 

1 Vol. II, page 425. 



1 8 History of Princeton 

Henry Willard, purchased it. After his decease it was sold 
in 1692 to the Hon. Samuel Sewall to cancel a debt of £84. 
Soon after the confirmation of the township to the Willards 
and their Associates, Judge Sewall obtained from the 
General Court an Act confirming the title of his little lot 
of 1,000 acres, the boundaries of which cannot be traced 
today. It seems singular that in the deed of the twelve 
miles square, no mention is made of this 1,000 acres which 
lay within its limits, but perhaps the matter of a paltry 
1,000 acres out of 93,000 may not have been thought worth 
considering. Thus it appears that both tracts (one within 
the other) were now held by indisputable title acquired by 
purchase of the Indians claiming right therein and by Act 
of confirmation of the General Court of the Province. 

Names of Associates. It is noticeable that the Indians 
conveying the smaller tract in 1684-85 did not join in the 
deed of the larger tract in 1686. The grantees of Rutland 
township and their Associates executed a deed of Associa- 
tion under date of April 14-17 which was recorded August 
17, 1 718 in Middlesex Registry, Vol. 19, page 293. The 
property was divided into 33 shares of which Joseph 
Foster had two and the others one each. The names of 
the Associates are as follows: 

Joseph Foster of Billerica. 

Cyprian Stevens of Lancaster for self and for children 
by wife Mary. 

Thomas How of Marlborough, Att'y & Assign of heirs 
of Jos. Rowlandson. 

Simon Willard of Salem. 

John Willard of Concord. 

Benjamin Willard, Framingham. 

Joseph Willard, London. 

Josiah Willard's heirs. 

Samuel Willard's heirs. 

Henry Willard's heirs. 

Daniel Willard's heirs. 

Jonathan Willard's heirs. 



The Early Period 19 

Thomas of Sudbury and Hannah, his wife, a 

daughter of Simon Wiliard. 

Nathaniel Howard of Chelmsford, children by Sarah 
Willard. 

Robert Blood, late of Concord, children by Elizabeth 
Willard. 

Joshua Edwards, late of Charlestown, children by Mary 
Willard. 

Hon. Wm. Taylor of Dorchester. 

Peter Townsend. 

Paul Dudley. 

Addington Davenport. 

Adam Winthrop. 

Thomas Hutchinson. 

Thomas Fitch. 

John White of Boston. 

Thomas How of Marlborough. 

John Chandler of Woodstock. 

William Dudley of Roxbury. 

John Farnsworth of Groton. 

Children and heirs of Peter Bulkley, late of Concord. 

Moses Parker of Chelmsford. 

Jacob Stevens of Stow. 

The New Township embraced in area nearly one-tenth 
of the County of Worcester, and was considered a very 
large grant even for the days when the authorities were 
lavish with their gifts of land. Grants of a few hundred 
acres were apparently freely made for all sorts of reasons, 
as will be noted hereafter in connection with some Prince- 
ton land. But in this case the character of the petitioners, 
and the services of Major Willard to the Colony, would 
naturally debar any serious objections to the confirmation 
of a purchase, which wisely included in its provisions lands 
for new settlements of advantage to the Province. 

The accompanying plan indicates plainly the extent of 
the township of Rutland as originally granted, and the 
towns then included within its limits. 



20 



History oj Princeton 



BA^/:f^ 



<^^^AW/l/ / 



"^(yssAyq-os 



7~0A/ 




^(yr^A/o 



I ^"^'^Cero^ 




Plan of Rutland Township. From the Original. 



The Early Period 21 

Proprietors. At the first meeting of the Proprietors 
held in Boston on the 14th of April, 17 14, of which Paul 
Dudley, Esq., of Boston was Moderator and Mr. Samuel 
Wright of Sudbury, Clerk, the establishment of a town was 
considered and the Committee consisting of William Dud- 
ley, Esq., Thomas How, Esq., Captain Jacob Stevens, 
Captain Jonathan Prescott and Mr. Samuel Wright, was 
appointed to " Look after the Plating said town, and 
establishing Inhabitants there, and to Report to the 
Proprietors the most convenient place for settling a town- 
ship, and the best method in their Judgment for the 
Incorageing Inhabitants to settle in said Town." 

The next meeting was held on the 24th of December, 
1715, at the Green Dragon in Boston, when it was voted 
" that the contents of Six Miles Square be Surveyed & set 
off for the Settlement of Sixty-two families in order to the 
performance of the Grant. — That the place for the settle- 
ment be determined by the Committee already chosen for 
settling the Town." 

The details of the surveys, settlements, distribution of 
lots and the thousand and one matters necessary to be 
attended to, were left to the Committee above named, 
thus obviating the necessity of holding frequent meetings 
of the Proprietors. 

First Birth. The Settlement soon gave evidence of 
gradual but solid growth, though it is probable that for 
the first few years the winter months were passed by a 
majority of the settlers in the towns where the comforts 
of life were greater, and the necessary supplies for the 
family more readily secured. The event of the birth of 
the first male child there occurred in 1719 (a son of Moses 
and Eunice How), and was appropriately recognized by 
the Proprietors in the gift of one hundred acres of land to 
the young man. Some fifty families were now on the spot, 
comprising representatives from Boston, Concord, Sud- 
bury, Marlborough and other towns, and also emigrants 
of respectability from Ireland. A meeting house was 
erected, and provision made for the support of the ministry 



22 History of Princeton 

and school, in compliance with the conditions imposed by 
the General Court in the Act confirming the lands to the 
Proprietors, and on the 30th of May, 1722, the town of 
Rutland was incorporated. Thereafter the Proprietors of 
the township (the " Grand Proprietors " as they have been 
styled) had no authority over the " Six Mile Square " or 
" Settlers " part. The individual lands within the town 
limits were distributed among the Settlers at various times 
or sold for the benefit of the whole, — until the entire area 
had been disposed of, the records finally closing in the year 
1797. These records are now in the care of the Town of 
Princeton, and deposited in the Town Library. 

Sales and Transfers. During the years of preparatory 
work culminating in the organization of a separate town 
within the bounds of the proprietorship, there had been 
many changes among the Associates by reason of death 
and transfer of shares. These transfers do not appear to 
have assumed, at any time, any degree of speculative 
tendency, although as early as 17 14 we find record of a 
sale by Captain Samuel Wright of a share for forty pounds, 
which he had purchased for thirty-five pounds only a month 
before. The original price, twenty-three pounds, paid the 
Indians for the whole tract was doubtless satisfactory to 
them, possibly foreseeing as they might that the lands could 
be of but little value to them with the advancing march of 
the white man. During the long period of thirty years 
before any attempt was made to improve or realize upon 
the investment, it is quite certain that the value was not 
eaten up by taxes, as these were not assessed by the colony, 
whatever might be counted as loss of interest upon the sum 
advanced. But in reading the records of the meetings of 
the Proprietors one can but notice the uneasiness caused by 
delays of projected settlements, the apparent lack of inter- 
est, and the meetings for financial questions to be solved. 
To meet the oft-repeated calls for money required by the 
maintenance of the few highways and bridges which the 
increasing travel from the seaboard to the interior de- 
manded, resort was sometimes had to sale of lots, and quite 



The Early Period 23 

often to assessments upon the share holders. And there 
is evidence of unwillingness on the part of some of the share 
holders to meet the collection of these assessments, dodging 
the payment of the tax. There is no doubt that the 
financial embarrassment induced some to sell their shares 
to others having more faith in the enterprise. And it is 
reasonable to infer that the later purchasers, at least, 
realized a fair return for their investment, especially when 
they held corner lots w^ith meadows and uplands of corre- 
sponding value. In 1724 a share was sold for £200. 
With the establishment of the town well underway, the 
Proprietors considered plans for the future, anticipating 
the movements of the progressive New Englander in 
pushing out over the frontiers " beyond the confines of 
settlement and civilization." The remaining land of the 
Township was divided into sections known as the North- 
west Quarter, now Barre, the Northeast Quarter, now 
Hubbardston, the East Wing, now Princeton, and the West 
Wing. 

East Wing. The first reference upon the Proprietors' 
records to the East Wing, w^hich eventually formed one- 
half of Princeton, is under date March 26, 17 18, when it 
was voted '* that the Two Large Tracts or parcels of land 
belonging to the Proprietors of Rutland on the East and 
on the West of the township of the Settlers' part be divided 
each into three and thirty or sixty-six farmes for the three 
and thirty Proprietors, or whole shares, as Equally as may 
be per Quantity and Quality any Large Tracts of meadow 
to be Reserved as Common for the whole and each share 
to have its proportion." The following June the Com- 
mittee having charge of the survey was urged to " take 
care " that these tracts " forthwith and with all possible 
Expedition be Laid out — with all suitable accommodations 
of ways for or to Each farme or lott." The survey of the 
Wing was completed during the following summer and 
plans prepared. The original is probably not in existence, 
but among some papers found in Rutland a few years since 
was a small copy. There are evidences of errors of the 



24 History of Princeton 

copyist both in names and descriptions of the lots, but it 
is sufficiently accurate to show the method of division and 
to enable one to determine the present locations. The 
Wing was divided into 48 lots of about 237 acres each, 
33 being numbered consecutively i to 33, twelve " let- 
tered " lots A to M, and three meadow lots, " Potitivater," 
" Wachiisett " and " Deadmare.'' There were also six 
" Gores " on the northwesterly end, containing in all about 
237 acres. Many of the lines forming the boundaries of 
these lots are still to be seen in the town, and all of them 
can be readily traced. The easterly line of Lot B is a 
few rods in the rear of the present Town Hall, and in the 
spring or autumn standing on the hill one can trace the 
sectional lines by the walls through valleys and over hills 
almost to Rutland. 

Father Ralle's War. With these plans before them the 
Proprietors held a meeting November 5, 1718, at whid^ 

25 of the 33 share holders were represented. An assess- 
ment was ordered to cover a balance of £133, 18.4 for 
expenditures incurred in surveys and for other necessary 
charges. Before, however, the consummation of any plans 
for settlement could be effected, new perplexities arose, 
occasioned by the commencement of hostilities by the 
Indians in the war known as Lovewell's or the Father 
Ralle's war, in 1722. Discontent had arisen among the 
Abenakis or Eastern Indians, resulting from real or fancied 
wrongs in the taking of their lands, and this was fostered 
and fomented by the machinations of the French officials 
in Canada. The terrible scenes of King Philip's war were 
renewed, villages were burned, men, women and children 
massacred or carried into captivity. Great fear was felt 
in the interior settlements, and many villages were almost 
deserted. 

Massacre in Rutland. In Rutland the exposure and 
consequent danger appeared so great that a large propor- 
tion of the families, perhaps two-thirds, left the town, 
seeking security in the settlements on the coast and else- 
where. On the 14th of August, 1723, five Indians entered 



The Early Period 25 

the town, waylaid and killed the minister, Rev. Joseph 
Willard, and two children of Deacon Joseph Stevens, 
taking captive two others of the Deacon's children. The 
inhabitants promptly called upon the Province for soldiers, 
and although a small guard was sent there, great difficulty 
was experienced In securing a number that could be in any 
degree efficient. Other towns all along the border were 
demanding similar protection, and the authorities were 
unprepared to cope successfully with the emergency. 
Though quiet prevailed during the following winter, the 
enemy were on the alert in the spring, and notwithstanding 
the watchfulness of the guard and the inhabitants, another 
raid was made upon the town on the third of August, when 
three men were killed. All through the summer the people 
of Groton, Dunstable, Lancaster, Rutland and other 
exposed towns were calling for soldiers to protect their 
houses and to guard the men in the fields making their hay 
and gathering their crops. In July of that year the mili- 
tary guard about Rutland numbered but 38 men. But 
the second attack upon Rutland not only aroused the 
inhabitants and quickened the vigilance of the soldiers but 
stimulated the government to active measures, resulting 
in a very material increase of the military force in this 
vicinity as well as in other places of anticipated danger. 
The incidents connected with this war belong more 
properly to the history of Rutland. A treaty of peace was 
signed in December, 1725, and hostilities ceased. Some of 
the absent families returned to the town, but many others 
sold or abandoned their farms and made homes elsewhere. 
In December, 1727, there were but about 25 families there, 
and for some years thereafter the progress was slow. Still 
there was a growth, and as gradually the fear of Indian 
invasion was lessened, matters resumed the ordinary aspect 
of a rural settlement. 

Renewal of Settlement. The disturbances of these 
years of war between 1722 and 1726 were a serious em- 
barrassment to the Proprietors of the township. The 
establishment of new towns was not only retarded but 



26 History of Princeton 

rendered impossible and all of the operations of the Pro- 
prietors practically ceased. In October, 1733, Adam 
Winthrop, Esq., Rev. Thomas Prince and others took the 
necessary legal steps for calling a meeting of the share 
holders, which was held at the Royal Exchange Tavern 
in Boston on the 7th of November following, there being 
present thirteen gentlemen representing 11^ shares. A 
Committee consisting of Messrs. Adam Winthrop, Samuel 
Willard, Estes Hatch, Richard Bill and Francis Brinley 
was appointed for the general management of the affairs, 
and it was ordered that a new survey or renewal of bounds 
of the East and West Wings, and the northern half of 
Rutland be made. To meet the anticipated cost of this 
with other necessary expenses, a tax of £10 per share was 
laid. A full list of the fortunate owners of the shares at 
that time with their respective tax appears on the records. 

New Survey. Two surveyors, Samuel Willard and 
Henry Lee, appeared willing to undertake the survey at 
the same price, but Mr. Willard offered some small induce- 
ment and the contract was given to him. Subsequently 
he made an arrangement with Mr. Lee and the latter sur- 
veyed the East and West Wings, doubtless commencing 
the work as early in the year of 1734 as the season per- 
mitted. For this work Mr. Lee received £100 with £7 
additional for the division of the three meadow lots. The 
distribution of the unassigned land in the East Wing soon 
followed as appears by the following record : 

" The Division of the unappropriated Lettered Lots, 
Gores and Gussets in the East and West Wings in the 
Southern half part of y"" Township of Rutland in y^ County 
of Worcester, being after y*^ Rate of One hundred & fifty- 
eight acres to Each of the Thirty three whole Shares ac- 
cording as the said Divisions are described in a plat of each 
wing laid by the Committee before y*" Proprietors of y'' 
s"^ Township (Exclusive of y^ Settlers part) at their meeting 
by adjournment y^ 24th day of Septemb'" 1734, ^t the 
Royall Exchange Tavern in Boston. 

The East Wing Cont"" 237 Acres in Each Lot. 



The Early Period 27 

Letter 

M 79 acres In y^ Southerly part to heirs of Peter Boul- 

key. 

Claimed by Capt. John Boulkey & Rev. Mr. 

Benj. Prescot. 

138 ac In North y to Adant WInthrop. 
A 7 ac In South y to John Willard claimed by Thos. 

Prince. 
72 very Rocky adjoining Northerly on the 2^ 

seven acres 

Sixty three acres to Thos. Prince. 

Nine acres to Wm. Allen. 
158 Joseph Rowlandson now Wm. Allen. 
B 79 In West y Joseph Willard now Mrs. Hannah 

Fayerweather. 
79 adj. East Simon Willard now Wm. Salter. 

79 Eastermost Henry Willard now John Dolbear 

5 c 

6 -'• 

Samuel Wlllard's sister Leland \. 
C 79 South y Simon Willard — Rich'' Bill. 

158 North y Daniel Willard — heirs. 
D 79 West y Moses Parker — Sami Hatch. 

158 Josiah Willard — heirs. 
E 79 Jacob Stevens T.P. 

158 Paul Dudley T.P. 
F 79 John Willard T.P. 
158 Thos. How T.P. 

P.S. Claiming John W's whole right in y® 
East Wing autg to 86 ac in this Division 79 
ac are laid out In this lot & the other 7 In 
lot H. 
G 79 Joshua Edmunds 



Sam' Waldo 



112 Joseph Foster 
20 Robert Blood heirs 
26 Moses Parker 
H 158 in West y Wm. Taylor Francis Brinley. 

79 East Cyprian Stevens Sec^ Willard. 

I 7 West y & Gore Cyp. Stevens by his wife Mary 

Willard. 



28 History of Princeton 

*" i?8 Ad? ■'"'"''' ^°''^' I ^^'"' ^^''''''° 

T^ ^ J 1 T- ^ f Jona Oulton, Cor- 

JLast y Joseph roster ] ,. „. ,, 

■^ -' ^ [ nelius Waldo 

112 Eastermost & Gore Thos. Fitch. Fitch 

Gore 59 acres. 

K Granted to first Minister of Rutland. 

L 79 Cyp. Stevens 



79 Joseph Willard t Estes Hatch 
79 Penn. Townsend J 

Gores 

a 7 ac. Jos. Foster Saml Waldo. 

b 20 Thos. Brintnal Widow Hannah formerly 

Willard. 

c 33 John Chandler heirs Eben'^ Allen, 

d 46 Thos. Fitch Fitch 

e 59 Divided with I. 

f 72 Cyp. Stevens heirs by wife, Saml Waldo. 

Gift to Rev. Mr. Prince. Plans of these lots were 
made and ordered to be put upon record, but unfortunately 
do not appear thereon. The Proprietors granted to Rev. 
Mr. Prince " In consideration of the great care & labour 
he has taken in calculating & Computing y^ Divisions 
above mentioned & other good Services perform 'd to the 
proprietors," y2 acres of land in lot A " Not having been 
set ofT to any of the proprietors by reason of the broken- 
ness of it." Mr. Prince prepared many of the plans of 
the Rutland lands, some of which are still in existence, 
and show excellent workmanship. 

November 26, 1735. Division of Meadow Lots 

" The Northerly " Southerly End lines of the Three 
Lots in y^ s*^ East Wing are supposed to be 191 1 poles in 
length & their Easterly & Westerly side lines to be 200 
poles in length, whether they be really longer or shorter: 

These lots are here Divided: & the several Divisions 



The Early Period 29 

Numbered, including both the medow & the Upland 
contained in y*" s'^ medow lots, as the plat Describes them : 
with the express intention, y* s*^ medow lots are exactly 
as larg & broad as the plat Describes them, then the s"^ 
Divisions must be exactly for Length and Breadth as they 
are therein described; but if the s*^ medow Lots are really 
larger or lesser, than their s*^ Division must be answerbly 
larger or lesser; & the particular owners of the Divisions 
in the several medow Lots must take care by agreement, 
or otherwise to state the Bounds of their Respective 
Divisions among themselves." 

" One acre of medow valued as three acres of upland." 

Wachusett 
I. 21 medow 86 Upland Paul Dudley, Thos. How, 

John Willard) \ Jacob Ste- 
vens) Thos. Prince. 
" Samuel Willard's heirs. 
1 " Moses Parker = Oulton & 
Waldo. 
" T. Hutchinson. 

heirs Jos. Rowlandson = 
Wm. Allen (formerly granted 
Allen). 
VI. 4 " 23 Thos. Prince, Dec. 26, 1734. 



II. 


2 130 


»i 


IqSO 


III. 


36O 


M 


60 I 


IV. 


6i 


»» 


27i 


V. 


2 


M 


41 

9 





Dead Mare^ 


I. 
II. 

III. 21 


22| Upland 

45 
i6| 


Cyprian Stevens = to Sect^ 

Willard. 

Col. Taylor = F. Brinley. 

Jos. Willard = Hannah Fayr- 

weather. 



* In a report by Capt. Wright of Rutland, July 10, 1725, the following ref- 
erence is made to this locality, which indicates the origin of the name by which 
it was for many years known. " Our people are now beginning to mow their 
out meadows we shall want a Strong guard, one Scout Came in Last night dis- 
covered no Indians; tho the watch at one of the garisons Discovered an Indian 
as they say 2 nights agoe by a Garison as they lay at some distance, this morn- 
ing we found a mare as we Sopose Shot & Dead & Sopose the Indians shot her." 



30 History of Princeton 

IV. 3 I4f " Penn Townsend = Anthony 

Stoddard. 
V. 6 100 Joseph Foster, Joshua Ed- 

munds, Moses Parker, Cyp- 
rian Stevens, Robert Blood 
= Saml Waldo. 

VI. 8 22 Upland Cyprian Stevens, Joseph 

Willard, Penn Townsend = 
E. Hatch. 

Poutwater 

I- 32 34^^° Adam Winthrop. 
II. 90 rods30^°'^ Adam Winthrop, Dec. 26, 1734. 

III. 15! Peter Boulkey's heirs = Capt. John 

Bulkly & Benj. Prescot. 

IV. 7I 23^° John White = ^ heirs, \ James 

Pemberton, \ Saml Sewall. 
V. 10 14^^*' Wm. Dudley = Col. Isaac Winslow. 

VI. 6f 25'^° Josiah Willard's heirs. 

VII. 6| 25I John Farnsworth = ^ Benj. Brown, 

\ B. Dyer, \ John Buttolph. 
VIII. 5f 27100 Simon Willard = ^ Wm. Salter, 

i Rich-^ Bill. 

Thus the whole area of the East Wing was equitably 
divided among the proprietors. Similar divisions were 
made of the other lands, settlements projected, and eventu- 
ally towns incorporated. The Northwest quarter of the 
district was incorporated as a district in 1753, and as the 
town of Hutchinson in 1774, the name being changed in 
1776 to Barre. The West Wing became a precinct in 
1759 and the town of Oakham in 1762. The Northeast 
quarter was incorporated as Hubbardston in 1767. The 
remainder with a portion of Leicester formed the district 
of Paxton incorporated in 1765. 

Proprietors' Records. The Records of the General 
Proprietors abruptly closed in 1770, the lands had all been 
disposed of, and the plans, papers and books were ordered 
to be committed to the keeping of the Hon. Moses Gill. 



The Early Period 31 

Unfortunately the plans and papers are missing, but copies 
of the original surveys of their respective lands are on 
record in some of the towns above named. 

The settlement of the East Wing, so often contemplated 
but not yet accomplished, was again discussed by the 
proprietors in June, 1742, when a committee was requested 
to " Project a Method for Bringing forward settlements 
in the East Wing in concert with the neighboring farmes 
on the East Side thereof," but no report of the Committee 
appears on record or of any action relative thereto. There 
is some evidence tending to show that a few families were 
living in the East Wing near to Rutland line at this period. 
It is undoubtedly true that some of the lots, especially those 
owned by Rutland men, were under cultivation long before 
any dwellings were erected. These lands were reasonably 
accessible, although the roads must have been at certain 
seasons in a deplorable condition, even worse than when 
subsequently attacked by those calling themselves high- 
way surveyors. 

French War. The war declared by the French against 
Great Britain in 1744, known as the Old French War, 
continuing for four years, doubtless had its effect in retard- 
ing the settlement, as did also the French and Indian War 
in 1754. This last was a heavy burden upon the Province 
in men and means. 

But while the East Wing was still " on the market," 
awaiting the courageous settler or the removal of whatever 
obstacle was preventing the beginning and growth of a 
settlement, developments were taking place upon the 
North and East of this tract which indicated an early 
advance of the tiller of the soil. A large area of land lay 
between Lunenburg, Westminster, Leominster and Rut- 
land, much of it unappropriated, and none of it included 
within the bounds of any town.^ The survey and location 

1 In 1714-15 the Committee for laying out the township of Rutland, were 
instructed to do so "as near as may be in a Square Figure, but withal contigu- 
ous to the Line of the Towns of Lancaster, Worcester and Leominster if it 
reached so far," but this was found impossible, as it would not cover the tract 
purchased of the natives. They were, therefore, obliged to locate the town 
and "leave a slip of land too small for a township." 



32 History oj Princeton 

of quite a number of large tracts within this area granted 
by the Province tended towards early settlements thereon, 
and it appears that for a few years the new comers pre- 
ferred locating near Lancaster, probably on account of the 
greater facility for travelling and the procuring of Supplies. 
The action of the Rutland proprietors in 1742, referred to 
above, was doubtless occasioned particularly by the pro- 
posed movement of Mr. Wilder hereafter described, and 
by the frequent grants made by the General Court of 
Province Land. Leaving for the present the East Wing, 
let us look at the history of some of the " Farmes contigu- 
ous to the East Wing," which contains much of interest 
and valine and a record of the first settlers within the present 
limits of Princeton. A reference to the accompanying 
plan will make clear to the reader the location of the 
" Farmes " and the several grants hereafter described. 



The Early Period 



33 




Plan of the Farms as Traced out by Mr. Blake. 



I. 


Rutland East Wing. 


14. 


Notown. 


2. 


Hubbardston. 


15- 


Muzzey's. 


3. 


Hubbardston Annex. 


16. 


Stevens'. 


4. 


Westminster. 


17- 


Potash. 


5. 


Leominster. 


18. 


Watertowa Farms. 


6. 


Sterling. 


19. 


Mayhew. 


7. 


Rutland. 


20. 


Allen's. 


8. 


Stillriver. 


21. 


Wilder's. 


9- 


Allen's. 


22. 


Brattle Farm. 


10. 


Wachusett Mountain. 


23- 


Blagrove. 


II. 


Kneeland's. 


24. 


Loring Farm. 


12. 


Drury's. 


25- 


Hart well's Meadow 


13- 


Willard's. 







CHAPTER III 
THE FARMS ADJOINING 

Province Grants. First in importance as to extent and 
value is the tract of 2000 acres known as, — 

Watertown Farms. The origin of the name and the 
occasion of the grant are clearly established. 

In 1637 the General Court granted to the town of Water- 
town " land to accommodate 50 or 60 families at the River 
that runs to Concord," but a controversy arose with the 
town of Sudbury concerning its location. The dispute was 
finally settled by the Court and the following order passed 
in May, 1651. 

" Its ordred by this Court that Watertowne shall haue 
two thousand accors of land layd out neere Assabeth River, 
joyninge to the bound of Sudbury, in respect of such land 
as was wantinge to them, which was graunted them formerly 
by this Court, to be the bound of their towne, & that Capt. 
VVillard & Lieut. Goodenow are appoynted to se this done 
& performed, & to make returne there of to this Court at 
theire next session, p'vided it be not p'judiciall to any 
former graunts." (Col. Record 3 : 235.) 

No return of this Committee appears on the records of 
the Court, and the location of the grant was evidently 
neglected for many years. 

The next mention of the subject on these records is in 
1726, although it is probable that some previous attempts 
to secure the land were made by the town. At a meeting 
of the inhabitants of Watertown on the 14th of March 
1725-6, it was " put to vote whether the Town will choose 
a Committee to Adress the great and General Court for 
a Sutable Track of Land to settle their young people on, 
and to endeavour the obtaining the former Grants which 
were made to Watertown that have not yett been Obtained, 
and the Vote past in ye Affirmative." 

34 



The Farms Adjoining 35 

In December following a petition to the Court was 
presented by the towns of Watertown and Weston (the 
latter having- been originally within the bounds of the 
former town) reciting in substance the above facts and 
stating that " the grants have not yet been taken up or 
satisfied." " And forasmuch as the Inhabitants are much 
straightened as to land so that many of them have been 
obliged to remove out and settle in other places," they 
prayed that a grant of Province Land might be made for 
their relief. 

Not accomplishing their desire at this time another 
attempt was made in 1727, the Committee stating in their 
petition that " your petitioners have for many years past 
solicited your Honours even before the time of Limitation 
for settling Grants was expired, but have never yet been 
favored so far as to be allowed to survey the said additional 
Grant " and they " are once more Emboldened to lay their 
Case before your Honrs for your Wise and Just Considera- 
tion." 

The only result of this appeal was a reference to the next 
session. Not to be baffled, however, the towns in June, 
1728, repeated their request and this time it was favorably 
considered and a grant of two thousand acres of Province 
Land was made to them. This appears to have been satis- 
factory to the towns and in October following a survey was 
made of a tract " joining to the Great Watchusett Hill," 
which was Confirmed by the General Court, Sept. 25, 1729. 

The bounds of this tract are given on the plan on file in 
the State Archives as follows: — 

" South Westerly by Rutland line, every other way by 
Province Land, beginning at Rutland line N. 39 W. 
840 perch on Rutland line, East 39 North 86 perch East 
4 North 140 perch under great Watchusett, North 40 East 
160 perch. East 35 South 654 perch and South 35 West 
600 perch to Rutland line." 

As Russell says the westerly line is " daintily deflected 
to exclude the mountain, and at the same time include all 
the valuable land at its base." This was not the only time 



36 History of Princeton 

the mountain was " left out In the cold " by Surveyors, 
and it was only when the first minister of the district 
secured it by gift from the Province that it was considered 
worth much of anything. 

The accompanying plan ^ will give a general idea of the 
bound and location of this extensive tract, the western 
boundary of which extended more than two miles and a 
half. 

Several unsuccessful attempts were made by Watertown 
to find a purchaser for it. In 1756 the three towns Water- 
town, Weston and Waltham, each then having an interest 
in the tract, voted to sell it, and although no record of the 
sale appears on the Watertown records, among the town 
files, ^ however, is a report of a Committee dated the 12th 
of March, 1758, showing that they had been successful in 
disposing of it for £2005. (£802. Lawful money.) This 
sum was equally divided between the towns of Watertown, 
Weston and Waltham. 

This conveyance was made to Josiah Coolidge by deed, 
dated the 27th of October, 1756 (recorded Worcester deeds. 
Vol. 38, page 207), and signed by Jonathan Bemis and 
others acting doubtless as agents for the towns, although 
not so stated in the deed. Very likely Mr. Coolidge the 
purchaser was acting in behalf of what would now be called 
a syndicate, but whether so or not, he, within a very few 
years, conveyed the whole tract, or what appears to be the 
whole area, to nine individuals as follows: 

To John Samson 180 acres. 

Henry Spring, Jr 100 acres. 

Jeremiah Whittemore 264 acres. 

Benj. Brown 343 acres. 

Henry Gale 150 acres. 

John BuUard 190 acres. 

John Mirick 193 acres. 

Lemuel Jones 153 acres. 

Amos Spring 391 acres. 

1 See page 33. 



The Farms Adjoining 37 

making a total of 1964 acres. These parcels were after- 
wards in many cases subdivided among the first settlers 
of the district of Princeton. The whole tract appears to 
have been at some time surveyed and divided into lots, 
probably by direction of the above-named grantees, but 
we are not aware of any plans now in existence. 

After prolonged and persistent search through volumes 
of deeds recorded in Worcester Registry sufficient informa- 
tion was gained to enable the writer with the courteous 
suggestions of Albert C. Howe, Esq. (whose ancestor was 
early settled on lot number 14 still retained in the family), 
to determine the location of the " squadron lines " and 
make a plan of the whole which may be considered sub- 
stantially correct. 

The story of how the " Farms " became a part of Prince- 
ton is told elsewhere. 

Gardner's Farms. In endeavoring to trace the origin 
of the name of " Gardner's Farms " more time and labor 
have been expended than upon any other portion of this 
work and the results have been far less satisfactory. 

A careful examination of the public records proved fruit- 
less, and the search was several times abandoned, only 
to be again renewed, as some possible clue to the mystery 
presented itself. Finally a plan bearing date of 1733 was 
found in Worcester Registry of Deeds (Vol. 32, page 116) 
describing a tract of 900 acres unappropriated land situated 
in what is now Leominster, and upon this plan " Willard's 
Farm" heretofore described was designated as "Gardner's 
Farm." This farm as has been stated was granted to the 
heirs of Rev. Joseph Willard, upon petition of Rev. Andrew 
Gardner, and in this way appears to have acquired the 
name of "Gardner's Farm." The title, however, appears 
not to have been confined to that farm of 200 acres alone, 
but embraced tracts on the west and north, probably with- 
out any well-defined limits. A portion of this territory 
with lands adjoining acquired subsequently the name of 
No Town, as it was for many years unappropriated land. 

The Rev. Andrew Gardner, a graduate of Harvard 



3& History of Princeton 

University 1712, was in 17 19 settled as the first minister 
of the town of Worcester. He was a very eccentric man 
and his habits occasioned great complaints among his 
parishioners; his " too ardent love for the chase of the deer 
and the sports of the hunter," combined with other objec- 
tionable characteristics, finally leading to a separation, from 
his church, not without a lawsuit to recover his salary 
which he considered due. 

As elsewhere stated he married the widow of Rev. Joseph 
Willard of Rutland, and subsequently settled at Turkey 
Hills (Lunenburg) where complaints similar to those at 
Worcester were made against him. Again taking up his 
staff he removed with his family to Number " 4 " (Charles- 
town, N. H.) and during the French and Indian war he was 
in the service of the Province as chaplain at Fort Dummer. 

It is possible that while at Worcester or Lunenburg he 
acquired by grant or purchase lands in Princeton, other 
than the Willard farm, but no record of such has been found. 
There was in this vicinity a large tract of "unappropri- 
ated " land of the Province and it is quite probable that 
some of it was quietly appropriated by settlers and a title 
acquired only by long occupancy, which may account for 
the absence of record evidence of their title. Without 
any attempt to locate exactly the several farms or estates 
in this section, which is probably impossible, it will suffice 
to mention some of the more prominent owners. 

In 1750 Daniel Driiry of Shrewsbury purchased of the 
Province for £14.5, 76 acres of land west of and adjoining 
the Willard farm of which he then owned a part (for plan 
see Mass. Archives, Vol. 46, pages 199-201). The next 
year the Willard and Drury farms were conveyed to 
Benjamin Wilson, who sold a portion to Da?iiel Gardner, Jr., 
as before stated. This latter portion is described as 
" Lying near a place called Crows Hill," (now in West- 
minster), and an island near the northerly end of Willard 's 
is named, both of which references may serve to locate the 
tract or farm to those familiar with that region. 

In 1757 Mr. Wilson with Moses Garfield built a saw 



The Farms Adjoining 39 

mill, probably on or near the spot so long occupied for that 
purpose, now occupied by Osgood's Mill. 

In 1795 there was a grist or a saw mill there. There is 
evidence also of there being two houses in that vicinity in 

1754-^ 

This was doubtless the first mill in the easterly part of 
the town. 

In a conveyance of a small lot of land with one-half of 
the saw mill, Oct. 21, 1757, by Mr. Wilson " of Gardner's 
farm near Watchusett Hill " to Mr. Garfield of the same 
place, it is provided that Mr. Wilson shall " have the 
priveledge of Laying Boards on a Little Knole or Ridge 
Hill Easterly from the place where said W^ilson and Gar- 
field are now Building a Saw Mill " and also the privilege 
of building a dam, etc. (Worcester Deeds, Vol. 39, page 
536.) 

One of the brooks in this vicinity was designated as 
" Gardner's Brook." 

Among other owners of land in this vicinity were: 
Edward Wilson, Edward Joyner, William Joyner, Gardner 
Chandler, Abel Ray, Joshua Mosman, John Bowen, John 
Frost, some of them acquiring their titles subsequent to 

1759- 

Edward Wilson (brother of Benjamin Wilson, above 
named) as early as 1760 owned a part of Kneeland and the 
Willard farms. In 1763 he, with Benjamin Houghton, 
petitioned the Court for indemnity on account of their 
bounds interfering and the land " falling short 45 acres," 
for which Mr. Houghton was allowed £24. Mr. Wilson 
also purchased of the State in 1781 for £20. in silver, 80 
acres west of Drury's, extending to Westminster line, which 
was probably the 80 acre lot which the Province attempted 
to sell in 1762. His petition to the General Court in re- 
lation to this land is of some interest. 



40 History of Princeton 

Commonwelth oj The Massachusetts 

To the Honble Sennitt and Hon^^^ House of Representatives in General 
Court assembled att Boston April y* lo**^ 1781. 

The petition of Edward Willson of Princeton Humbly Sheweth, — That 
there is about Eighty acres of unimproved Land Lieing partly in Princeton, 
and is unapropriated Land; & the property of the Commonwelth and your 
petitioner being under Verry Low Circumstances unable to purchase a 
farme to Live on haue Entered upon and made Some Improuement on said 
premises in hopes of Receiuing some proffit from the same: but have not as 
yet receieued any and your petitioner being Sensible that he is Lieable to 
be Considered as a Trespasser; yet However Relieth on the indulgence of 
the Hon^'e General Court and most Humbly Moues that he may be In- 
dulged with Liberty of purchaseing the same att the full value considered 
as in a State of Nature and as the Land can be of no possable seruice as it 
Lies to the pubhck: but if sold may mak Considerable Returns to the 
Commonwealth but if the Hon^^^ House should judge it in Expedient to 
Indulge your petitioner with the Land att priuet Saile: prays the Land may 
be sold att a publick vendue. 

With Reserue that your petitioner may have a Just and Reasonable 
allowance for his Labour out of the proceades theirof. 

And your petitioner as in Duty Bound shall Ever pray &c. 

Edward Wilson." 
In House May 8, 1781 — ordered a Committee to apprize and Sell to E. W. 

" In the condition in which it was before said Willison made any Im- 
provements thereon."' 

In 1765 he with Timothy Mossman (whose connection 
with the Potash farm is elsewhere noted) petitioned the 
General Court reciting that Wilson " bought 5 years since 
a tract called Willards farm of 250 acres, that the curveyor 
in laying it out took in 11 acres of Province land as part 
of that tract, being part of 105 acres lying between Nolands 
(Kneelands) farm & Gardners farm " that he, Wilson, has 
built his house on the said 11 acres — that Mossman was 
at charge of surveying the said 250 acres & both of them 
were in the last war. They therefore prayed for a grant 
of the 105 acre tract." 2 

The House granted Wilson the eleven acres " where his 
house was built," but the Council nonconcurred and a 
second attempt resulted in a second denial. 

'State Archives, Vol. 233, pages 30, 31. 
' Court Records, 25, 423. 



The Farms Adjoining 41 

John Frost subsequently took the eleven acre lot and 
John Bowen the 105 acres. 

Mr. Bowen desired to buy this of the Province in 1771 
and Asa Whitcomb was instructed in 1773 to sell it — the 
eleven acres originally included in Kneelands farm " to 
be prized & if John Frost who lives on it does not want it " 
it was to be sold at auction. Mr. Whitcomb declared the 
land of no value and declined to put it up, but the next 
year it was sold, 103 acres to John Bowen, £1519, and 10 
acres to John Frost for forty shillings. 

A plan of this land is found in Massachusetts Archives, 
Vol. 4, page 81. 

During the war of the Revolution Mr. Bowen was a 
sympathizer with the mother country, and with other 
Loyalists was obliged to leave the country and seek safety 
elsewhere. His land in Princeton was confiscated and sold, 
and the net proceeds, £258, turned in to the Province 
treasury. 

Benjamin Houghton was one of the largest real estate 
owners in the Province. In addition to the Wilder and 
Allen farms previously referred to, he purchased of the 
Province, in 1752, 329 acres on the northerly side of the 
Mountain, extending to and easterly of Kneeland's farm. 
The price paid for this was £42.6. 

To this he added by purchase of a portion of Kneeland's 
Farm and the conveyances to him on record are very many 
as are also the sales made by him. 

The land northeast of the Mountain he sold in small 
farm lots to various parties, Abel Ray, Jr., Tilly Littlejohn, 
and others (Littlejohn sold his house in 1790 to Ephraim 
Woolson). 

Blagrove's Farm. This farm (sometimes erroneously 
called Blackgrove's or Blagrow's) comprising one thousand 
or more acres, was situated in the southeasterly part of 
the town, extending from the northerly bound of the East 
Wing to Still River or Sterling bound. 

It derived its name from Nathaniel Blagrove of Bristol, 
R. I., and its history was discovered by me only after a long 



42 History of Princeton 

and persistent search. For this history we must go back 
to the early days of the Colony. 

Capt. John Allen was a resident of Charlestown as early 
as the year 1639. He was a man of some prominence in 
that town, at one time a Deputy to the General Court, 
and his name frequently appears in the public records, 
especially in connection with his occupation as a ship- 
master. In the Records of Massachusetts Bay, Vol. V, 
page 427, appears the following under date of Nov. 7, 
1668. 

" The Court, Understanding that Capt. John AUIn hath 
Severall times been imployed by order ffrom this Court, 
viz tenn dayes, to look after a French ship upon the coast, 
as also a voyage to Mounsieur De Aulnay, both himself 
and ship, for the space of neere twenty dayes besides a 
second voyage to the a foresaid D Aulnay wherein he was 
about sixe weekes, to w'^^ may be added his lending M*" 
Winslow, for the countrys vse, one hundred pounds in 
England w'''^ was not payd in seven yeares after, & then 
but in country pay: all w"*" considered the Court judgeth 
it meete, as a manifestation of their acceptance of such 
his good services, which hitherto hath not been tooke notice 
of, so as to render him any answerable recompense, to grant 
him a thousand acres of land where he cann finde it, 
according to law, so as to take it not vp in aboue two 
places." 

This was a rather tardy settlement of obligations in- 
curred some twenty to twenty-five years previously, but the 
poverty of the Colony may have been sufficient excuse for 
the delay. The possession of a boundless country afforded 
an easy method of cancelling its debts, in cases where the 
creditors were willing to take their pay in land. 

In reference to these services of Capt. Allen the Court 
records give several interesting items. 

In May 1645, Major Gibbons was ordered to send 
" two shallops furnished with men to goe for ye discouy of 
what he shipp y^ lyeth houring about these Coasts is, & 
whence," &c. and a committee was authorized to draw up 



The Farms Adjoining 43 

a commission to Mr. Allen who doubtless had charge of 
the undertaking. 

In the same year appears this record (referring to a 
passport for a certain Capt. Bridge) " Capt. Rob* Bridge 
is imployed by this Courte to negotiate w*** Monsieur 
De Aulnay, Knight, left genne'' all for ye King of Fraunce, 
in ye prince of Acadye, on ye Speciall affaires of ye comis- 
sion'^ of ye Vnited Collonyes of New England, in a vessell 

of whereof Mr. Allen is M'' ", &c. There were 

two vessels besides Capt. Allen's employed in this expe- 
dition. 

In relation to the loan of money referred to by the Court 
in 1668 we have an interesting item. 

In a letter to Edward Winslow who was then (1649) in 
England, the Court acknowledges the receipt of a letter 
by the hands of Capt. Allen, regrets its inability to provide 
suitable allowance for him (Mr. Winslow) and adds " yett 
Shall wee hope by Gods assistance, faithfully dischardge 
and satisfy Mr. Allen or any other from whom you have 
receaved any moneyes in our behalf." And on the i8th 
of October, 1649 " Itt is ordered, that the Treasurer doe 
forthw*^'^ pay and satisfy M^ John Allen one hundred and 
thirty pounds, in the best and current pay that comes into 
the treasury out of this levye for his hundred pounds he 
paid M' Winslow." 

As the treasurer of the Colony received for the " Country 
levy " or taxes all kinds of grain and produce (the price of 
which was regulated by the Court, this year being " wheate, 
at hue shillings, barely at fine shillings six pense; pease & 
rye, four shillings; Indian corne three shillings ") vve can 
easily surmise that Capt. Allen would gladly have dis- 
counted his claim at a large percentage for coin. 

However, the settlement of the account was made in 
" country pay " as ordered, and nineteen years later the 
Court endeavored to adjust the matter with him, together 
with his other unsettled claims, by the grant of land above 
named, and this was the origin of the farm within Prince- 
ton bounds, known as Blagrove's farm. 



44 History of Princeton 

Capt. Allen lived but a few years after the grant of the 
land was made him, and by his will in 1672-3 he gave to 
his wife, with his other estate " one thousand Acres of 
Land given by the Contrye " which she was to hold for 
the benefit of their children. Mrs. Allen survived her 
husband but a short time, her death occurring in 1675. 

One is inclined to think that Capt. Allen's right in the 
one thousand acres of Province Land, was forgotten by his 
heirs, for apparently nothing was done to secure it for more 
than fifty years after the Captain's decease. 

It was in the year 1727 that Thomas Church in behalf of 
himself and other heirs of Capt. Allen petitioned the 
General Court for the location and survey of this tract 
granted in November, 1668. 

This was ordered Dec. 9, 1727, and a plan presented 
the following June was accepted, and the grant confirmed. 
The bounds of this tract are so well defined on the plan in 
the Massachusetts archives (a copy of which is also in 
Worcester, Registry Deeds, Vol. 44, page 31) that there is 
now no difficulty in determining its location. Upon the 
same plan is a description of the " Hartwell farm " to 
which reference is elsewhere made in these pages. 

The river forming the easterly boundary of the tract 
now Still River is described on the plan as "a Rocky 
Stream of water being the Westerly Bounds of Lancaster 
New Grant." (Now Leominster.) 

The property thus confirmed to the heirs of Capt. Allen, 
appears to have passed into the possession of one of his 
daughters, Elizabeth, who married first Nathan Hayman, 
and second Nathaniel Blagrove. The latter was a man 
of some prominence in Bristol, R. L, where he was a judge 
of probate, and when he died in 1742, by his will he directed 
that the remains of his first wife, Elizabeth Allen, and those 
of her former husband, Nathan Hayman, be taken up 
" enclosed in one cofiin and buried in one grave." 

It is not evident why the name of Blagrove should have 
attached to the farm, but it was so designated as early as 
1730. The title seems to have rested in the heirs of Eliza- 



The Farms Adjoining 45 

beth (Allen) Blagrove, from her death until 1760, when 
there was a division of the property among them (Wor- 
cester Registry, Vol. 44, page 31). The parties then 
entitled to share the estate were Rev. William Brattle of 
Cambridge one-fourth, Rev. Israel Loring of Sudbury one- 
eighth. Dr. Zachariah Harvey of Princeton one-third, 
widow Alice Eunice one-eighth and Thomas Green one- 
sixth. Mr. Brattle and Mr. Loring had married daughters 
of Mrs. (Allen) Hayman, but the relationship of the other 
heirs has not been ascertained. Dr. Harvey probably 
acquired his share by purchases. 

Upon a resurvey of the farm it was found to contain 
1 1 50 acres " neat measure." To Mr. Brattle was assigned 
250 acres on the northerly side, and to Mr. Loring 125 
acres on the easterly side. A little north of Mr. Loring's 
lot, and some 200 rods north of the present easterly corner 
of the town on Sterling bounds, there is shown on the plan 
a bridge across the river, and this is identical with the 
location of the present bridge on the County road. 

To Dr. Harvey was assigned the remainder of the tract, 
and having purchased the shares of Mr. Green and Mrs. 
Eunice, and being allowed 150 acres to make his proportion 
" as good in quality " as the others, he became the pro- 
prietor of 775 acres. The " Brattle farm " and " Loring 
farm " are often named on the early tax lists of the town. 

The Brattle farm was confiscated by the Government and 
sold in 1 78 1 for £281.10, silver money to William Putnam 
who the following year conveyed it to David Osgood. 

Having traced the history of the Blagrove farm from the 
year 1645 to 1760 it may be well to leave the subsequent 
divisions and transfers for the investigation of the present 
owners. 

Muzzy's Farm. Benjamin Muzzy of Sherborn in 1729 
petitioned the General Court " stating that he was taken 
Prisoner by the Indians while he was a Soldier in service 
of the Province, and endured a long and cruel Captivity 
among them and narrowly escaped death, that the Wounds 
and other hard Usage he received from the Enemy has 



46 History of Princeton 

occasioned much sickness since his Return and a charge 
to the Doctor, And therefore Praying for a Grant of Land 
or a Sum of money out of the Treasury in consideration of 
his Sufferings and Losses abouve mentioned." 

The original petition of Mr. Muzzy cannot be found, 
neither have any other facts concerning him been learned. 

For a number of years, at this period, the Court was very 
liberal in giving away the unappropriated lands of the 
Province, and this liberality only tended to increase the 
applications, which became very numerous and were 
based upon all sorts of real or imaginary claims. 

It was easier to satisfy these demands by gifts of land 
than of money, and the result of Mr. Muzzy's request was 
a grant of 200 acres. A tract on the north of " great 
Wachusett " was selected surveyed and confirmed in May, 
1730, but in December following, for reasons not appearing 
on record, another tract east of Wachusett was substituted. 

Mr. Muzzy sold the farm on the 13th of June, 1749, for 
£400 Old Tenor to Robert Keyes of Shrewsbury who 
with his family settled there in May, 1751, and this was the 
farm where he was living when he lost his little child, to 
which event reference is made elsewhere. 

Potash Farm. The history of this large tract of land of 
1500 or more acres, dating back to the year 1735, is of no 
little interest. 

For many years the subject of the manufacture of potash 
in this country had occupied the attention of merchants, 
and the General Court of this province had offered many 
inducements to accomplish the desired object, not only to 
meet the limited demand here, but also with the expecta- 
tion of exporting to England in large quantities. The 
abundance of wood in the province seemed to offer en- 
couragement for its manufacture, and some attempts were 
made, considerable quantities being produced in Ashburn- 
ham, Leominster, Rutland and other towns, but probably 
only a small amount was ever manufactured within the 
limits of Princeton. 

The various petitions and papers relating to this industry, 



The Farms Adjoining 47 

on file in the Massachusetts Archives, are full of interest, 
but this sketch must be confined to one project only. 

Thomas Plaisted, a merchant of Boston presented to the 
General Court, Dec. 29, 1735, a petition the substance of 
which is given in the Court records (the original is not to be 
found.) 

" A petition of Thomas Plaisted late of London now of 
Boston Merch* Showing that he is well acquainted with the 
Mystery of making Potash which he apprehends may be 
carried on to a good advantage in this Province. Propos- 
ing to treat with a Committee of this Court & Praying that 
some suitable Persons may be accordingly appointed to 
receive & consider what he has to offer on that head, & 
make report thereof to the Court. 

In the House of Representatives Read & Ordered that 
Joseph Gerrlsh " John Choat Esq^ Mr. Prout, Coll Brown, 
M"" Thomas Cushing, John Alden & Nahum Ward Esq"", 
Mr. Milbury, & Mr. Ingersol with such as the Hon^'^ Board 
shall join be a Committee to take this Petition under 
consideration and report their Opinion what may be proper 
for the Court to do for the encouragement of the Petltlon*^ 
in carrying on the Manufacture of Potash within this 
Province as within mentioned." 

" In Council, Read & Concur'd And Edmund Quincy, 
Samuel Thaxter, William Dudley, Ebenezer Burrill & Isaac 
Lothrop Esq'' are joined in the Affair." (Vol. XVI, page 
248.) 

The report of this Committee with the action thereon 
is of sufficient interest to give in full. 

Jan. 12, 1735-6. 

" Edmund Quincy Esq'" from the Committee on the Peti- 
tion of Thomas Plaisted gave in the following Report: viz. 

'* In obedience to the Order of this Court appointing a 
Committee to consider of the Petition of Mr. Thomas 
Plaisted &c. We having met & discoursed fully with the 
Petition*^ & received from him more particulars and Pro- 
posals in writing, herewith exhibited, referring to the carry- 
ing on the Manufacture of Potash within this Province, Are 



48 History oj Princeton 

of Opinion that for Encouragement of the Petition'' in an 
Undertaking so much for the service of Great Britian as 
well as advantage to this Countrey, There be granted 
Fifteen hundred acres of Land in some suitable place, 
within forty or fifty miles of the Town of Boston, unto 
some proper Person or Persons that this Court shall appoint 
to be holden by him or them in trust & for the use of the 
said Thomas Plaisted the Petioner, for the space of three 
years; & that there be also advanced & paid him out of 
the public Treasury the sum of Eight hundred Pounds to 
be by him repaid together with the value or price of the 
said fifteen hundred acres of Land at a moderate rate & 
apprizement at the expiration of the term of three years as 
aforesaid; For the payment of which sums the Petition^ 
shall be obliged to find sufftcient security as also for his the 
said Plaisteds making at least thirty Tuns of Potash & 
sending the same to London according to the proposals 
above mentioned; & that the said Manufacture shall be 
openly & publickly carried on so that whoever shall labor 
therein shall be made capable of manufacturing it them- 
selves; & further that in order to his finding out a suitable 
Tract of Land as aforesaid some meet Person or Persons 
that are well acquainted with the unappropriated Lands, be 
appointed as soon as the season of the year will admit 
thereof, & at the charge of the Government to assist the 
Petition'' in finding out & surveying the said fifteen hundred 
Acres in order to its being granted & confirmed in trust as 
aforesaid: and further we are humbly of opinion that if 
the Petition'' efifect his design of introducing & carrying on 
the said Manufacture to the advantage of the Province, as 
he hath proposed, It will be proper to make the said Grant 
of fifteen hundred Acres an absolute Estate, in the Petition*^ 
& his Heirs, & that he be further rewarded for such his 
good service to this country by an adequate generous 
Grant or Allowance of this Government. All which is 
humbly submitted. 

By order of the Committee, 

Edm^ Quincy." 



The Farms Adjoining 49 

In the House of Representatives Read & Ordered that this 
Report be accepted : 

In Council: Read & Concur'd: & Joseph Wilder is ap- 
pointed to assist in finding one & surveying the Lands 
within mentioned: & in taking said survey, that he care- 
fully view & consider the Quality of the Land, & return, 
with the Plat, his Opinion of the value thereof at the same 
time. 

In the House of Represent""^ Read & Concur'd. 

Consented to J. Belcher. 

The restrictions placed upon the loan and the conditions 
of the grant proved to be judicious in the light of subsequent 
events. 

One tract of land containing 1500 acres adjoining Water- 
town farms was selected and surveyed and on the first 
of July, 1736, was confirmed to Mr. Plaisted. 

It would seem that the wooded lands in that vicinity 
must have been of more vigorous growth than in later 
years to induce Mr. Plaisted to accept this tract for his 
experiments in manufacturing potash. 

No plan of this tract has been found, and it is now 
impossible to make one that is accurate, as the lines and 
courses are not well defined. This is immaterial however, 
as a subsequent survey proved that the original grant 
encroached upon one of earlier date. The location of the 
farm is indicated on the accompanying plan. 

The most southerly portion was added to make up for 
that which was lost on the northerly side by interference 
with an earlier grant. If the recorded measurements are 
followed exactly, a portion of the farm would possibly lie 
in Leominster, but there is evidently an error in the length 
of the line, which perhaps should read 200 instead of 280 
rods. 

A few months later Mr. Plaisted desired an understand- 
ing about the payment of the proposed loan, and also asked 
that the limit of three years time, within which he was to 



50 History of Princeton 

commence the manufacture of potash, be reckoned from 
his receipt of the mojtey and not from the date of the grant. 
The latter was conceded, but it is probable that he never 
received any funds from the Province treasury, nor had 
occasion to call for them, on account of the successful 
operation of his venture. 

If tradition may be relied upon, he commenced the 
manufacture of potash somewhere within the limits of the 
farm, but soon abandoned it, and the history of his experi- 
ments, the extent of his investment, and the cause of his 
failure to make a merchantable article are hidden in the 
past. He remained in the vicinity evidently for ten years 
at least, as in 1738 he purchased " Mayhew's Farm " 
adjoining, but nothing more is known of him or his move- 
ments in Boston or elsewhere, nor the time and place of 
his death. 

It is only known that Mr. Plaisted failed to perform his 
agreements with the Government and in 1759 the Court 
ordered William Richardson, Esq., to take possession of 
the farm in the name of the Province, which was promptly 
done. Acting under direction of the Court, he reported 
in April, 1760, that he had leased the farm to Timothy 
Mossman, for one year, for the sum of six pounds. The 
lease was renewed the following year. 

It may be surmised that but little, if any, of the land was 
under cultivation, yet this rental value (six pounds ster- 
ling) for fifteen hundred acres may be an interesting item 
for the present proprietors and residents of the village of 
East Princeton and its surrounding farms, formerly in- 
cluded within the bounds of " Old Potash." As early as 
1754 there were two dwelling houses in the northerly part 
of this farm, but the occupants are unknown, although it 
is presumed that they were of the Mossman family. 

Mr. Timothy Mossman, Senior, had been living on the 
farm previous to his lease from the Province, as appears 
by his petition to the Court in 1764, of which an abstract is 
given. 

" Your petitioner Lived at Dorchester Canada (Ash- 



The Farms Adjoining 51 

burnham) and was drove off by the Indians, from that 
Town, and thereby I Lose'd my House, moveables, and 
Implements, and being impoverish'd sold my Lands there, 
I was put in possession of the Pottash farm by virtue 
of a Lease from Capt. Plaisted, where I did much Labour, 
in fencing improveing & makeing roads to the value of 
Two Hundred Pounds where also I met with Great sickness 
in my person & family and was further reduced by the Loss 
of the Possession of the Province Land as it became 
profitable." * He asked that his indebtedness of £12. to 
the Province might be " forgiven " and also for a grant of 
a small tract of Province land between Westminster and 
Leominster " that is useless to the Government " or for 
the sum of £200. The Court cancelled the debt but 
refused to give him either land or money. 

This small indebtedness very likely represented two 
years unpaid rent of Potash farm. 

Mr. Mossman had formerly lived at Sudbury, where he 
had brought up a large family. 

As he was one of the early settlers of Princeton, it may 
not be out of place to insert here another petition of his, 
dated May 6, 1760. 

" The petition of Timothy Mossman of Princetown So Called in the 
County of Worcester Humbley shewing 

To your Hono'': & Honours that his son Samuel Mossman was an Inlisted 
Soulger in the Seruis of the Gouernment in the Expedition against Canada 
in year 1759 under the Comand of Capt. Colt and in CoUoncl Abijah Wil- 
lards Rcgement and so it was that my Said Son was a grate part of the 
Sumer So much Indisposed that it Cost him Eightie pounds of his wages to 
get Nesecareys for his Comfort and some short time before the army was 
Dismissed he being so Verey weke and Low obtained Leue to Come home 
and was brought in a wagon to Albaney and he much Dificultey got ouer 
to Grenbush and was put into a barn where he Lay in a most Dredful Con- 
djton None aboute him Expecting his Life: one of his acquaintance Sending 
me word of my Said Sons Case I Imedetley send a man & horse vp to said 
Grenbush for his Relif and when he the Said man ariued at Grenbush he 
found my Son so Verry weke & Poor that he was obhged to tarey Some 
Days before he Dare \'enture to Set out with him & after he set out they 
came but thre miles the first Day and with the Gratest Dificultey after be- 

*Mass. Archives, Vol. XLVI, page 485. 



52 History of Princeton 

ing done 19 Days got home for which time and horse and Expences of Said 
man I payed 29 Dollars as pr account here with Exhibeted may apper be- 
sides all winter after being sik which surcumstances I would Humbley besech 
your Hono"" and Honours to take into your Compashonate Consideration 
and alow him said 29 Doolers which he actuley payed as aforesaid and make 
him shuch further allowance for his Loss of time and Sickness Since he Came 
home as you in your Grate wisdom and goodness Shall Judge proper as in 
Duty Bound Do Pray 

Timothy Mossmann."* 

The thought of a man as sick as the one Mr. Mossman 
describes brought from Greenbush, N. Y., to Princeton 
on horseback, over the rough roads of a century ago, 
appeals very strongly to our " Compashonate Considera- 
tion," and it doubtless had its effect upon the Magistrates 
for the sum of £3.54 was ordered to be paid Wm. Richard- 
son, Esq., for the petitioner. 

Mr. Mossman and his sons subsequently owned land in 
Princeton, reference to which is made elsewhere in these 
pages. 

In July, 1 761, the authorities were notified of encroach- 
ments upon the farm as follows: — 

" Since possession of said farm was taken by Wm. 
Richardson, Esq., appointed by the General Court in 
behalf of the Province, the proprietors of said Lancaster 
have laid out into Lots above two hundred & fifty acres 
of the Southerly part of said Tract of Province Land, and 
have cut and destroyed the Timber thereon, also the Tim- 
ber on other parts of said Land whereby considerable part 
of said fifteen hundred acres of Land is likely to be lost 
unless speedily prevented." (Court Records, Vol. XXIV, 
page 92.) 

An investigation was ordered and the following report 
made Feb. 9, 1762 (Mass. Archives, Vol. 46, page 452), 
through Ezra Taylor, one of the Committee. 

" On the 29th day of Last September I Repaired to 
said Farm with a Surveyor and Chainman, and have run 
the Lines Search*^ up and Renewed the Bounds all Round 
said Farm And I find that in the originall Laying out of 

1 Mass. Archives, Vol. LXXIX, page 151. 



The Farms Adjoining 53 

said Farm It was Run on upon a Prior Grant made to one 
Mr. Gardnier which will Take sixty four acres of said 
Farm. I allso find that the most valuable part of the 
Timber on said Farm is Cut of and appears to have been 
Cheifly Done within Two years Last past and I Cant find 
out any Person who has done it Except one Timothy 
Mossman, who was then in Possession of said Pottash 
farm (as he says) by Virtue of a Lease From William 
Richardson, Esq'^ as Agent for the Government and was 
allowed by him to Cut the Timber afore said, Supposeing 
it was on Land formerly called Mayhews Farms and not 
on Province Land. 

And as to the Lotts which has been Laid out by the 
proprietors of Lancaster in said Province Land, it plainly 
appears To have been done without the Least Colour of 
Right for so doing: 

But without Doubt have gone upon the supposition that 
the originall plans & bounds were Lost and that they might 
Hold the Land by Takeing Possession thereof." ^ 

Mr. Taylor reported the expense of this survey 

Expenses of Surveyor and Chainman, 3 days 23.9 

Expense myself and horse, 3 days 18.0 

31-9 

which sum was allowed by the Court. 

What " Colour of Right " either Mr. Richardson or Mr. 
Mosman had to the timber on Mayhem's farm does not 
appear, although Mr. Plaisted who had purchased the 
latter farm in 1738 may possibly have leased or sold it to 
Mr. Mosman. (See Mayhews farm.) 

The report of the Committee, as given above, resulted 
in an order Feb. 11, 1762, authorizing the sale of the farm 
with other Province land, all described as follows, — 

" 1430 acres partly in Princetown called the Potash 
farm, 502 acres in Princetown commonly called Great 
Watchusett, 80 acres lying west of Potash farm." 

The sale was to take place in Boston, the Potash farm 

' Mass. Archives, Vol. XLVI, page 452. 



54 History of Princeton 

"to be set up at not less than £500." Wachusett "at not 
less than £50., and the 80 acre lot at not less than £10." 
the purchaser " to have i year to pay the purchase money 
upon good security without interest." 

An advertisement appears in the Boston Evening Post, 
May loth, 17th, 24th, 1762, announcing the sale of these 
lands on " Thursday the Third Day of June next, at Three 
o'clock Afternoon, at the Royal Exchange Tavern in 
King Street," and in February, 1763, the following report 
was presented to the General Court. 

" The Committee appointed to make Sale of Certain 
Lands lying in the County of Worcester have Attended 
that Service, and made Sale of the same in the manner 
following viz* 

The Potash Farm so-called sold to John Scott Merchant in 

Boston for 670 . 

Watchusett Hill Sold to said Scott for 65. 

Also Eighty acres lying West of the Potash Farm sold to said 

Scott for 12.10 

"Received Earnest for the Potash Farm 10. 

Received d° for Watchusett Hill 5 . 

Received d° for Eighty Acres above mentioned 3 . 

18. 
To Cash paid Cap Stone for Expenses for house room etc. at the 

time of sale 1.4 

16.16 

The ballance of the Cash received as Earnest for the 
above mentioned Lands being Sixteen pounds Sixteen 
Shillings your Committee have paid into the Province 
Treasury, and taken his Receipt for the same. 

Your Committee beg leave further to report that no deed 
has as yet been given of said Lands or Bonds taken for the 
money; the reason is that the Bounds of said Lands were 
not properly Ascertained : Your Committee therefore pray 
the further direction of the Court in the Affair: 

All of which is humbly submitted 

pr order John Choate." ^ 

1 Court Records, Vol. XXIV, page 563. 



The Farms Adjoining 55 

The Court ordered a new survey of the lands, but the 
sale to Mr. Scott amounted to nothing, no deed being 
given him, and nothing more is known of him in connection 
therewith, although in a few deeds the tract is referred 
to as " Mr. Scott's land." Mr. Scott was a Brazier of 
Boston, and had, subsequently, business transactions with 
Hon. Moses Gill. 

The farm appears to have been an unprofitable and 
troublesome piece of property for the province, on account 
of the failure of Mr. Plaisted's schemes, the encroachments 
of Lancaster people and others, the loss of rental, and the 
unsuccessful bargain with Mr. Scott. If, however, the 
place could not be sold, it could be given away, which 
perhaps was the best plan to prevent further annoyance, 
and this method was adopted in 1764 by resolve of the 
General Court, as follows: 

In the House of Representatives Jan'ry 26th, 1764. 
Resolved that the Tract of Land belonging to this Province 
Called the Potash farm Lying in Princetown District in 
the County of Worcester Bounded as foUoweth (vz) 
Easterly on Lancaster and Leominster, being at the South 
East Corner, being a Corner of a farm Called Britmans 
farm (written " Brightmores " in another record, but 
undoubtedly should be " Blagroves ") at a Heap of Stones, 
thence East 10 Degrees north 20 Rods to a great Rock in 
the Brook, Thence vp the said Brook one Hundred and 
thirty Rods to a Birch Tree on the Bank of the Brook, 
Thence North 19 Degrees west 274 Rods to a Heap of 
Stones Called the Squaw Cap, thence North 33 Degrees 
East 280 Rods to a Heap of stones, thence West 34 Degrees 
north 360 Rods to a pine Tree, thence west 9 Degrees north 
31 Rods to a Heap of Stones, at a Line of a farm Laid out 
to the Heirs of the Rev*^ Mr. Joseph Willard, thence South 
5 Degrees East 69 Rods to a Heap of stones, a corner of 
said farm, thence west five Degrees south 170 Rods to a 
Heap of stones. Being the south west Corner of said farm, 
thence west 7 Degrees north 52 Rods to a Heap of Stones, 
thence south 27 Degrees East 102 Rods to a Chesnut Tree 



56 History of Princeton 

Being a Corner of a farm Laid out to Capt. Joseph Stevens, 
thence South by said farm 170 Rods to a Heap of stones, 
at Meahews farm (so called) thence south 56 Degrees East 
by said Meahews farm 330 Rods to a Black oak Tree, 
thence south 34 Degrees west 94 Rods to a Heap of Stones, 
thence Eastwardly 4 Rods to a Heape of stones, thence 
south 34 Degrees west 322 Rods to a Heap of stones, vpon 
the Line of Watertown farm, thence East 3 Degrees north 
350 Rods to the Corner first mentioned — be and is Hereby 
granted to the Honble Timothy Ruggles Esq' his Heirs 
and assigns, for Ever, in Testimony of the greatfull sence 
this Court has of the Important services the grantee 
Rendered his Country Dureing the Late war more par- 
ticularly while Commander in Chief of the Troops of this 
Province furnished for the Reduction of Canada. 

Provided that the grantee or his Heirs pay their Propor- 
tion of a Tax of Two pence pr acre for Three years. Laid 
by the Generall Court at their Sessions in Janry 1760, 
vpon all the vnimproved Lands in the District of Prince- 
town. 

Sent vp for concurrence 

Tim° Ruggles Spk^ 
In Council Jan. 26, 1764. 

Read and Concurred 

A. Oliver Sec. 
Consented to 

Era Bernard ^ 

Gen. Ruggles, long a resident of Hardwick was dis- 
tinguished not only in military but in civil life. It is stated 
that he " possessed powers of mind of a very high order," 
that as a lawyer he was an impressive pleader and in debate 
able and ingenious." 

He attained high positions of honor and influence 
was chosen president of the Council, and at the time 
of the passage of the above resolve was Speaker of the 
House. 

* Court Records, Vol. 46, page 468. 



The Farms Adjoining 57 

His sympathies, however, were soon cast with the Loyal- 
ists, and at the evacuation of Boston in 1776, he accom- 
panied the royal troops to Halifax. His large estate was 
confiscated by the Government in 1779 and sold. From 
an account rendered in 1780, it appears that the sales of 
his real estate in Hardwick and Princeton amounted to 
£31,890. " Lawful money " (£1292.1.6 " Hard money") 
of this sum £5460. was received for about 600 acres of the 
Potash farm conveyed by deed Jan. 3, 1780 to David 
Osgood. 

Gen. Ruggles had disposed of the larger portion of the 
farm in 1772 — to Elisha Gale 176 acres, to John Bowen 
42 acres, to Joshua Sponer 550 acres, and to Nathan 
Billings 150 acres. Mr. Osgood, within a few years of his 
purchase, disposed of a considerable portion of the land to 
Messrs. Raymore, Richardson, Gale, Geary and others. 

The whole territory is now subdivided into many thrifty 
farms, with the enterprising village of East Princeton and 
its various industries, but the name of " Potash farm " 
" Old Potash " and " Ruggles farm " are unfamiliar to the 
great majority of the inhabitants. 

This somewhat extended account, probably embraces all 
the important facts that can be obtained concerning this 
once well-known locality. 

Since writing the above the following items have been 
found. 

It appears from depositions recorded with Worcester 
deeds that in 1764 Mr. Ruggles desired to perfect his title 
to this property and these fortunately give us some idea 
of the success of Mr. Plaisted's scheme. John Snow made 
oath that he had lived for thirty years in Lancaster addi- 
tional grant " and often laboured for one Francis Parker 
ye overseer or Pretended Artis for making Potash for one 
Capt. Thomas Plaisted. I never saw nor heard of but 
about three Quarters of a Hogshead of Potash that said 
Parker or any under him said Plaisted made on or about 
said Potash Farm so called, and said Parker Brought three 
Quarters of a Hogshead of Potash by my house it being the 



58 History of Princeton 

main road from said Potash Farm to Boston for Transpor- 
tation and said Parker shew it to me at my Door and that it 
appeared to me to be of a much Inferior QuaHty to what has 
been made in Lancaster and elsewhere since, that has taken 
a good market in England as I have been informed." 

Reuben Rugg, who lived on " the only cart road from 
Plaisted's farm to Boston; said that it looked more like 
the Cinder from a Blacksmiths fire than Potash " and 
Phineas Willard gave similar testimony. 

Wm. Richardson, Esq., declared that he understood 
from Capt. Plaisted's remarks that he never intended to 
fulfill his contract as to making Potash, but that he did 
intend to hold the lands. ^ 

William Richardson, Esq., of Lancaster testified " 20 
odd years ago & after the Great & General Court had 
granted 1500 acres to Capt. T. Plaisted upon certain 
conditions, Since known as Potash farm and now in Prince- 
town district — William Richardson kept a public house 
in Lancaster & ye ad Thomas Plaisted was often at his 
House & when speaking about ye Conditions of ad Grant 
& in particular about eight hundred Pounds that the 
Government was to lend him for some Time in Conversa- 
tion ad Plaisted declared that he had been to ye Province 
Treasurer for ye money but at that Time ye Treasurer 
could not attend upon him & told him he must call again, 
& ye s'd Plaisted said he never went again & in so doing 
he had nicked ye Province, by which ye ad William ye 
Depot from ad Declaration of ye ad Plaisted understood 
that he intended to hold ad Lands without fulfilling the 
Conditions of the Grant, & Mr Richardson appointed to 
take possession of the land & did so & leased it for 2 years 
& received the rent. 

Feb. 7, 1764, by request of Timothy Ruggles."^ 

Mayhew's Farm. This tract was on the northerly side 
of Watertown farm, adjoining Capt. Stevens' and the 
Potash farms. 

1 Worcester Deeds, Vol. XLIX, pages 256 and 484. 
* Worcester Registry Deeds, Vol. XLIX, page 256. 



The Farms Adjoining 59 

A petition was presented to the General Court, Dec. 30, 
1730, by " IMr. Experience Mahew of Marthas Vineyard 
Clerk Setting forth his great Labours, & Services in con- 
verting the Indians to Christianity, & the disadvantages 
accruing to his own private Estate in attending that work 
and praying from this Court a Grant of some of the un- 
appropriated Lands of this Province in consideration of his 
said Services." (C. R., Vol. 15, page no.) 

Unfortunately the original petition of Mr. Mayhew is 
missing from among the State papers (as are many others 
referred to in these pages). But the substance of the 
petition as given in the records of the General Court 
explains the basis of Mr. Mayhew's claim upon the gener- 
osity of the Province. He was then a minister of the 
Gospel among the Indians at Martha's Vineyard, as were 
his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather before him, 
and his own son after him, making in all a service of one 
hundred and sixty years in preaching to the Indians by 
the " five venerable Mayhews." 

Rev. Experience Mayhew himself was engaged in this 
work for sixty four years, being at the time of his death, in 
1758, 85 years old. 

He was specially fitted for this service, having been 
familiar with the Indian language from his infancy. 

Rev. Thomas Prince said of him " he has been all along 
accounted one of the greatest masters of it (the language) 
that hath been known among us." 

He made a version of the Psalms and of the Gospel of 
John, and published also an account of the religious work 
among the Indian tribes of the Vineyard. 

The reasonableness of his request was recognized by the 
Court and a tract of 200 acres of Province land was granted 
to him. A survey was made of land " one mile to the 
eastward of the great Wachusett Hill," adjoining Water- 
town Farm, and a plan thereof presented to the Court and 
confirmed in June, 1731. Mr. Mayhew sold the farm in 
1738 for £125. to Thomas Plaisted, who, at that time was 
in possession of the adjoining Potash farm. 



6o History of Princeton 

Mr. Plaisted is said to have leased it to Mr. Mossman 
and very likely sold it to him but there is no record of any 
transfer by Mr. Plaisted, Mr. Mossman, or any one else. 
In 1776 it appears to have been in the possession of the 
Mossman family, Timothy Jr., selling at that time to 
Stephen Harrington forty acres described as " a part of 
Mayhew's farm " and Abel, Joshua & Samuel Mosman, 
brothers of Timothy Junior, also owned land adjoining, 
from which it may be inferred that the father in some way 
obtained possession of the farm and it was divided among 
the sons. 

The name of " Mayhew's farm " was retained for many 
years in descriptions of this tract. The outline can readily 
be defined today, 

Allen's Farms. These were the property of Rev. Benj. 
Allen of Bridgewater. 

In a petition to the General Court in 1730 he set forth, as 
recorded in the Court Journal (the original petition is lost) 
that " he supported for many years in his house & at con- 
siderable charge Ruth Nusuck an Indian Squaw being old 
and sickly — in requital for which she conveyed to him by 
deed a tract of land 5 miles long & 3 miles broad, lying to 
the northward of Brookfield, most of which tract as the 
petitioner is informed is taken up by Grants of the Court & 
praying for an equivalent of land or otherwise relieved." 
(C. R., Vol. 14, page 354, 463; Vol. 15, page 34.) 

In response the Court in July, 1730, granted him 200 
acres of Province land, which in September following was 
increased by another grant of the same quantity making 
400 acres in all. 

Surveys were made and plans of the two tracts of land 
are preserved. One of these, often referred to in the town 
and other records as the Allen farm, embraced 229 acres 
lying westerly of the Watertown farms and Southwesterly 
of Wachusett hill. 

The second piece containing 171 acres was in the South- 
easterly part of the town between Watertown and Blagrove 
farms. 



The Farms Adjoining 6l 

Mr. Allen was a native of Tisbury, graduated at Yale 
College 1708 and was ordained in 17 18 at Bridgewater 
where he was pastor ten or twelve years, but " being an 
unsuccessful manager of his secular concerns, he Jell into 
debt, and the parish after often relieving him became at 
last weary of it, and he was dismissed by an ecclesiastical 
council." 

He was subsequently settled at Cape Elizabeth, Me., 
where he died, in 1754, at the age of 65. 

While at the latter place, he sold, Jan. 5, i736-7» the 
smaller of the two farms (stated as containing 169 acres) 
for £130. current money to Benjamin Houghton. (Mr. 
Houghton appears to have had some years after controversy 
concerning the boundaries of his farm with Joshua Wilder 
who owned land adjoining.) 

The larger tract near the Watertown farm Mr. Allen 
sold in 1739 (then 231 acres) to Epes Sargent of Gloucester 
for £150. thus realizing from the entire grant the sum of 
£280. which it is hoped enabled him to keep out of debt. 
The last named farm was conveyed in 1771 for £230. to 
Rev. Timothy Fuller who already owned 500 acres adjoin- 
ing on the north, including Wachusett hill. 

Willard's Farm. The Rev. Joseph Willard a graduate 
of Harvard College in 17 15 was invited by the inhabitants 
of Rutland in 1721 to settle with them as their minister. 
He was then about twenty-one years old, and this was 
his first pastorate. 

The young man found the place not so pleasant as he 
probably anticipated and was disheartened as seen by his 
letter, a copy of which is recorded on the book of the Pro- 
prietors of Rutland under date of October 19, 1722. He 
refers to the call of the town and adds " after serious con- 
sideration and humble addresses to heaven for direction 
I did accept, and accordingly began my building but have 
not been able to go on with it by reason of the people's 
backwardness and neglect of helping it forward by their 
work as they might have done, which, as also the removal 
of nigh or about two-thirds of the inhabitants out of the 



62 History of Princeton 

town, has Discoraged me from any further attempt 
towards building, and with the Concurance of several other 
things have altered my thoughts of settleing among you. 
I have therefore (Eying the Divine providence therein) 
thought it my duty to acquaint you with my purpose and 
design speedily to Remoue from you and desire you to 
Communicate this to the Inhabitants that they may timely 
seek out for some other person to labour in the work of 
the ministry among them." 

The situation of the settlers in Rutland at this time was 
truly very discouraging and even serious, as they were 
living in constant fear of sudden incursions of the Indians 
whose ravages were causing consternation among the 
various settlements on the frontier. 

With the assistance of the Government preparations 
were made to repel any attacks of the enemy, garrisons 
were established, scouts sent out to watch for the enemy, 
and a fort was ordered to be built about Mr. Willard's 
house. (A portion of this house was standing in 1885 in 
Rutland.) Notwithstanding this distressing condition of 
affairs Mr. Willard withdrew his resignation and in the 
fall of 1723 preparations were made for his installation as 
pastor of the church. 

By August of that year, however, fear of the savages had 
so alarmed the inhabitants that out of some seventy-five 
families not over fifteen remained in the town. A few of 
these returned after peace was restored, but as late as 1727 
there were only twenty-five families in the town, and the 
settlement was so retarded by these troubles that it was 
many years before much progress was made. 

Note. In a petition to the General Court by Simon Davis in behalf of 
the town in 1727, he says, referring to the time of Mr. Willard's death,' "it 
being a time of warr, many of the Inhabitants of the s,^ Town (who were in 
number Sixty Families then Setled) drew off and left their habitations, so 
that there were not above Fifteen Families remaining. But after ye peace 
with the Indians was concluded, several of them returned again, and are now 
grown to the number of Twenty Five Families or thereabout." 

' Mass. Archives, Vol. 113, page 732. 



The Farms Adjoining 63 

Mr. Willard's change of purpose and willingness to remain 
in the town, cost him his Hfe, for on tiie 14th of August, 1723, 
he was attacked and killed by the Indians. His proposal 
ten months before " speedily to Remove " from the town 
must have seemed to his neighbors as almost prophetic. 

Concerning this sad ending of his life, it is related that 
vv^hile away from his house on a hunting excursion, he was 
suddenly attacked by two Indians who fired upon him. 
He returned the fire, wounding one of them, upon which 
the second closed in with him, and with the assistance of 
three others who had appeared on the scene killed him. 
Removing his scalp and taking some of his clothing they 
escaped. In a letter from Lieutenant Governor Dummer 
to Monsieur Vandreuil, Governor of Canada, January 19, 
1724, in Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 50, page 106 (re- 
ferring to the alleged murder of Father Ralle, a Jesuit 
teacher) he says: " And I think I have much greater cause 
to complain that Mr. Willard the Minister of Rutland 
(who never had been guilty of the Facts chargeable upon 
Mr. Ralle) was by the Indians you sent to attack that 
Town, assaulted. Slain & Scalped & his Scalp carried in 
triumph to Quebec." 

Some time after Mr. Willard's death, his widow married 
Rev. Andrew Gardner into whose family her two children 
William and Joseph were received. Mr. Gardner was set- 
tled at Lunenburg, but subsequently removed to Charles- 
town, N. H. Further reference to him will be found under 
the article on " Gardner's Farms." 

It is interesting to note that one of Mrs. Willard's sons, 
Joseph, was in 1760 with his wife and five children taken 
captive by the Indians. The youngest child was killed 
and the rest of the family carried to Canada where they 
remained until the surrender of Montreal, when they were 
released. 

In 1729 Mr. Gardner in behalf of the children of Rev. 
Joseph Willard petitioned the General Court for a grant 
of Province land, stating that Mr. Willard was killed by 
the Indians in the late war and in defending his own 



64 History of Princeton 

life " did in all probability kill one or more of said 
Indians." 

The Court made a grant of 300 acres of unappropriated 
land in answer to this petition and a survey of a lot " West 
from Lancaster Additional grant & East from Wachusett," 
bounded " all about by common land " was confirmed 
Dec. 19, 1730. (Mass. Archives, Vol. 14, page 348.) 

Only a portion of this grant was included within the 
original limits of Princeton, the northerly portion belong- 
ing to that tract being known for many years as part of 
" No-Town." 

It retained the name of " Willard's farm " for years, but 
in some instances was called " Gardner's farm," to which 
reference is made hereafter. 

In 1 75 1 Daniel Drury of Shrewsbury and Benjamin 
Willard of " Potash " for £300. Lawful money conveyed 
this tract with an adjoining lot of 76 acres to Benjamin 
Wilson, who soon sold a part of it to Daniel Garfield, Jr., 
and somewhere within this territory a saw mill was erected, 
being the first one in that neighborhood of which we have 
any record. 

The history of the occupancy of these lands is so inter- 
woven with other adjoining tracts, that all are included 
in the article on Gardner's farm. 

Kneeland's Farm. This farm, occasionally referred to 
as " Nolands " was situated in what is now the northerly 
part of the town, adjoining Westminster including within 
its bounds a portion of Wachusett pond. It is difficult 
to determine the exact location, but its northerly corner 
was about fifty rods north of the pond on Westminster line, 
very near the old corner bound of the town before " No 
town " was annexed. 

Samuel Kneeland was a resident of Boston, for many 
years was printer for the General Court, and was also 
interested in the publication of many books and of one or 
more newspapers of his day. This " ancient and respect- 
able printer " bore an excellent reputation and was a useful 
citizen, " sustaining to the end the character of an upright 



The Farms Adjoining 65 

man & good Christian." His death occurred, Dec. 14, 
1769, at the age of 73. 

His partner, Bartholamew Green was the recipient of 
lands from the Government, and in 1734 Mr. Kneeland 
petitioned the General Court in his own behalf, praying 
for a grant of Province lands for the reasons set forth, — 
that he has officiated as Clerk of the Narragansett Com- 
pany and has spent much time & labour in that Service, 
whereby he has not only served the Said Company, but 
eased the Committees of the General Court of a great 
deal of trouble in finding out mistakes in the Lists & 
rectifying them: for which he has not received any satis- 
faction." 

The House of Representatives favored the petition but 
the Council refused its sanction: though a few months 
later, April 16, 1735, a grant of 250 acres was made, and 
upon presentation of a plan the lot as described above was 
confirmed on the 20th of December, 1735. (C. R., Vol. 20, 
pages 115, 238 — Plans Vol. 

In 1737 Mr. Kneeland mortgaged the farm and in 1740 
sold it to Samuel Hewes of Boston for £200. In 1759, at 
which time there were buildings upon the lot, Mr. Hewes 
conveyed it to Edward Wilson (to whose possessions 
reference is elsewhere made) who in turn conveyed to 
Benj. Houghton 45 acres, David Osgood, Jr., 102 acres, 
and John Frost 107 acres. 

Subsequently a large portion of the farm came into 
possession of the Everett family. 

Stevens' Farm. The facts connected with the history 
of this farm are full of interest. 

Capt. Joseph Stevens removed from Sudbury about the 
year 1720 to Rutland, where he became prominent in town 
affairs, was deacon of the church, ensign and captain in 
the militia, and innholder, and in every way was accounted 
a worthy man. 

The severe losses he sustained in his family by reason 
of the Indian invasion have been related in several publica- 
tions, but we are indebted to the historian of Charlestown, 



66 History of Princeton 

N. H., where one of Mr. Stevens' sons subsequently settled, 
for the most satisfactory account. 

On the 14th of August, 1723 (the same day In which Rev. 
Mr. Willard was killed, as elsewhere related), Capt. Stevens 
was making hay in the " meeting house meadow," and as 
his four sons were going to join him, they were surrounded 
by five Indians, who immediately slew two of them, and 
took Phineas, the eldest, and Isaac the youngest, prisoners. 
The father saw the transaction, but knowing that he 
was powerless to resist made his escape into neighboring 
bushes. 

Isaac was only about four years old, and the savages soon 
manifested their intention of killing him, but Phineas, 
then some seventeen years of age, quickly apprehending 
their design, succeeded in making them understand that 
if they would spare the child he would relieve them of all 
trouble in relation to him by carrying him on his back. 
The boy was spared and the brother fulfilled his agreement 
and carried him through the whole journey to Canada. 

The children were held in captivity for over a year, and 
were released only after persistent efforts of the father and 
at great expense. 

Two journeys to Canada were made by him and that 
was no easy task in those days. Upon the first visit he 
succeeded in securing one of the boys, but the other he was 
obliged to leave in captivity a while longer. We may be 
assured that he spared no pains to accomplish the desired 
object and enlisted in his behalf the services of all who could 
in any manner render assistance. In the Archives of the 
State (Vol. 51, page 399) is a letter of Lt. Gov. Dummer to 
the Intendant General of Canada, dated April 15, 1724, in 

which he says " Theun happy Man M"" Stevens 

had two of his Children murder'd by the Salvages & two 
more carried into Captivity by them. I know I need not 
say anything to a Gent of y'" Rank & Goodness to move 
you to a generous Compassion for the distress'd." What 
effect this letter had does not appear, but Mr. Stevens 
succeeded that year in getting one of his sons released. 



The Farms Adjoining 67 

Since this was written I have found a letter from Mr. 
Brintnall, an officer in command at Rutland, dated Aug. 
19th, 1724, in which he says " Ensign Stevens is arrived 
with his son from Canada, he intends to be att Boston with 
your Honor on Monday next." This shows that the son 
returned in just about a year from the date of his capture, 
while the other had not been released the following Novem- 
ber. 

Soon after his return to Rutland, he addressed a letter 
to Governor Dummer and to the General Court which is 
of sufficient interest to copy entire.^ 

This letter not only shows Mr, Stevens' strong desire 
for the liberation of his own son but evinces sincere sym- 
pathy for all others in captivity. 

The expenses of Capt. Stevens in his attempts to regain 
his children, bore heavily upon him and almost impoverished 
him. In this unhappy condition he followed the example 
of many others and petitioned the General Court in 1732 
for a grant of land " to settle his sons on " stating (in the 
words of the records. Vol. 15, page 325) that " his great 
losses and sufferings occasioned by the late Indian War 
more especially his great Charge in two Journeys to 
Canada, which he took to get his two Sons released out of 
Captivity which has obliged him to sell the greatest part 
of his land." 

In compliance with this request the Court granted, 
Nov. 29, 1732, 200 acres of land which were subsequently 
surveyed and laid out north of Watertown farm and south- 
easterly from Wachusett Hill. A plan of the lots is in 
Vol. 2 of Ancient Plans in Mass. Archives. 

The father, however, did not " settle his sons " on this 
farm but seven months after it was confirmed to him, sold 
it to Benj. Houghton for £100. current money. (Wor. 
Deeds, Vol. 8, page 267.) 

Of the two sons released from captivity it is stated that 
the youngest, Isaac, while with the Indians acquired many 
of their habits and became attached to his " squaw mother," 

^ Mass. Archives, Vol. ii, page 407. 



68 History of Princeton 

so that he would willingly have remained with her. He 
was married in Rutland where he resided many years. 

The eldest son, Phineas, remained in Rutland until 
about the year 1745, when he moved to Charlestown, 
N. H. In the latter town he became one of the most 
trustworthy of its citizens, and as a military man achieved 
a high reputation. His observation of " Indian habits 
and character and of their peculiar mode of strategy and 
warfare " during his captivity specially fitted him for the 
public duties he was called to perform. In 1749 he was 
commissioned by the Governor of Massachusetts to go to 
Canada and negotiate for the redemption of captives held 
by the Indians, and subsequently made several journeys 
for the same purpose. (See Mass. Archives, Vol. 73, page 
690). In one visit he succeeded in redeeming John Stark 
(afterward the General of Revolutionary fame.) 

Capt. Stevens, the father, in his later years was in 
straitened circumstances, so much so that he was assisted 
by friends.^ 

Johnson's or Hartwell's Farm. Capt. Edward Johnson 
of Woburn, the early New England historian, had several 
grants of land from the Colony, on account of his public 
services, which were as varied as they were valuable. 

He is best known as the author of " Wonder Working 
Providence of Sion's Saviour," a work of much historical 
value notwithstanding its peculiarities. 

Capt. Johnson's eccentricity is shown very forcibly in 
one petition to the Court which appears among the State 
files. It is in the Captain's own writing and such an 
unusual document that we print it in full, although it has 
no special reference to the town of Princeton. 

" To the Supreame & high Hounoured power of this 
desspicable Desart Stated in the Hands of Magistrates & 
Deputyes Assembled in Generall Court Hounoured. 

Submitting to y"*" noe lesse pious then prudent Judg- 
ments. 

' See History of Framingham for note about payment of money to Dea. 
Stevens. 



The Farms Adjoining 69 

The Request of him, who would Bee: not onely y"' 
Humble Searvant but alsoe possessor of som small track 
of land to the quantity of 500 ! Acres (where the Lord whos 
is the Earth & the fullness theirof) hath layd it as yet 
vnpossessed by any Towns or person. 

Motives of Justice & Compassion, touched will soone 
take if your hounoured Could but see any in Him who has 
waited one this Hounoured assembly for, 15, years of his 
few evell dages & is Reddy (through high conceitednes of 
him selfe) to touch vppon the first Embrce of or Lawes & 
curbing the Enemies of this well ordered government yet 
the plumes of Such light fethers, may soone Be pressed 
downe By the gravetie of this Honoured Court in him 
who is bound in Conscience to Bee (what ever yo*^ Answer 
shall Be). 

Your Hounoured to Serve, 

Edward Johnsen. 

In answer to this petition the deputies think meete to 
graunt the pet*^ three hundred Acres of land where he can 
find it according to law with reference to the consent of o"" 
hon*^ mag''"". 

William Torrey. 
8 (4) 1658. 

Consented to by the Magis*^ 

Edward Rawson, 

Secret^. 

(Mass. Archives, Vol. XLV, page 65.) 

This grant was taken up on the " Westerne wide of 
Merremacke River." 

In May, 1662, another grant of 200 acres was made 
Capt. Johnson, but as it was " never recorded " a con- 
firmation was made Oct. 20, 1663, the Court giving him 
" liberty to take it in any free place w*** in this jurisdiction 
according to lawe." 

Capt. Johnson died in 1672, without having located the 
last named grant, and no mention of it is found until 17 18 



70 History of Princeton 

when Edward Johnson a grandson of the Captain peti- 
tioned for a confirmation and survey. This request was 
granted by the Court Nov. ii, 1718 and a survey made, 
but as the tract laid out encroached upon other grants, 
another survey was ordered in 1720. 

It was then described as " on a branch of Nashua River 
near Rutland East line 120 rods from Shrewsbury north 
bounds, 15 rods south from said Branch," running north 
16° west 216 rods, west 12° south 143 rods south 12° east 
215 rods and thence to the first point. 

This was situated in the southeasterly part of Princeton, 
as indicated on the plan, and is the lot subsequently known 
as the " Hartwell farm " and undoubtedly identical with 
" Hartwell 's meadows." 

It remained in the Johnson family until 1755 when 
Joseph and William Johnson and Elisha Sawyer sold it to 
Zachariah Harvey of Shrewsbury for £226.14. 

This date may determine the time of Dr. Harvey's 
settlement in Princeton; it was certainly between 1755 
and 1758. (See Blagrove's Farm.) He purchased, a few 
years later, a large portion of the Blagrove's Farm adjoin- 
ing and surrounding the Johnson or Hartwell farm, making 
his possessions in that region some 1000 acres. 

It does not appear how this tract acquired the name of 
" Hartwell's Farm " or " Meadows," although it is signi- 
ficant that in laying it out Edward Hartwell as " Chain- 
man " assisted Jonas Houghton the surveyor. 

Mr. Hartwell was one of the influential men of Lancaster 
and Turkey Hills (Lunenburg) to which latter place he 
removed in August, 1725. He was called to fill important 
positions in both towns, and his connection with the mili- 
tary service of the Government, especially during the 
Indian troubles, brought him into prominence. In the 
State Archives there are many interesting letters of his and 
references to his services, showing him ever ready to serve 
his " King and Country." 

He died at the age of 97 " as full of piety as of 
days." 



The Farms Adjoining 71 

Lancaster, August ye 23, 1725. 
May it plese your Honer: your Hon*^ Having Given me 
the Subscriber the Inspection of the Soldiers at s"^ Lan- 
caster under the Command of Capt. Josiah Willard and 
I haveing bult at Turkey Hils and my Enterest lying there, 
I am desined to Remove theither y^ nex weak if I may but 
obtain your Hon"" Leave there for hopeing that I shall 
there be in as Good a Capasety to Serve both my King 
and Contery. I Humbly Request your Hon"" would signify 
your pleasuer herein by y*" barer: your Hon''" most Humble 

Se^v^^^- Edward Hartwell. 

by y hand of Ensign Oliver Wilder. 

Joshua Wilder's Farm. Joshua Wilder, a son of Nath- 
aniel and Demaris Wilder of Lancaster, was born Sept. 20, 
1712. 

The father moved from Lancaster to Petersham in 1743, 
the same year in which it is supposed the son built a house 
and settled with his family within the bounds of Princeton. 
There appears to be little doubt that, as has many times 
been asserted, he was the first settler in the town, and 
careful search among the public records has not revealed 
anything to the contrary, but rather confirmed the tradi- 
tion. 

The year previous to his father's removal to Petersham, 
Mr. Wilder petitioned the General Court for some land 
belonging to the Province. As the original petition has 
been preserved, and relates to the first dwelling and first 
public house in the town it is well to give a copy in full, — 

"Province of the Mass-j To his Excellency William Shirley, 
achusetts Bay [ Esq^, The Honbl Councill and 

Govenour J House of Deputies 

In Generall Court assembled at Boston, May, 1742. 

The Petition of Joshua Wilder most humbly shows That the Distance 
between Lancaster and a new Town called Nichewaug is about 25 miles. 

That about Ten miles west of Lancaster meeting House There is a Tract 
of Province Land which contains about one hunderd and Twenty acres 
Lying between Lands formerly Granted to Mr. Plaisted, & Mr. Allen and 
a farm called Blagroves farm which Lyes out of the bound of any Town. 



72 History of Princeton 

That your Petitioner Tho a Poor man yet he humbly apprehends he has 
the Character of an Honest & Laboureous man and is minded to settle 
himself & family thereon. 

That therefore he is desirous of obtaining a Grant of said land on such 
condition as may be consistent with your Excellency & Hon's Wisdom & 
on as Easy terms as may be, and should he obtain it he apprehends it would 
be of great service to People Travelling from Lancaster to the new towns 
now Settleing westward to have a house to resort to in their Travaling. 

Your Petitioner therefore humbly prays your Excellency and Hon'^ to 
take ye premises into your wise consideration and act thereon as may be 
consistent with your known Goodness & your petitioner shall as in duty 
bound ever pray etc. 

Joshua Wilder." 

The following endorsement appears on the petition, — 

" In the House of Rep*^^"" April 7th 1743. 
Read and ordered that the prayer of the within Petition 
be Granted and that the Lands within mentioned contain- 
ing about one hundred and twenty acres be and is hereby 
given and Granted the Petitioner his heirs and assigns 
forever, provided that he does within one year have a good 
and convenient house built there for ye Reception of 
Travellers and have Ten Acres thereof Cleared and brought 
to English Grass or plowing within four years and that he 
Dwell Thereon with his family or have some other good 
family Dwell thereon. 

Sent up for Concurrence, 

T. Gushing Spk^" 

The Council concurred making the amendment " four 
years from this day." ^ 

It will be noticed that this land was about midway 
between Lancaster, his old home, and Nichewaug or 
Petersham to which place his father was removed. 

Mr. Wilder built his house as agreed and remained there 
until about 1755 when with his large family he removed 
to the neighborhood of Ware, where he died about the 
year 1762. 

This date of his removal is several years earlier than that 
named by Mr. Russell for it appears that by deed dated 
March 28, 1755 he " living on a farm between Lancaster 

* Mass. Archives, Vol. XL VI, page 136. 



The Farms Adjoining 73 

& Petersham in ye County of Worcester " conveyed for 
£176. to Benjamin Houghton the 120 acres granted to him 
by the Court, described as the " farm I now live on & all 
ye Buildings thereon with ye Improvements on said Farm." 

Mr. Houghton already owned the " Allen " farm of 169 
acres adjoining on the Southwesterly side. 

The estate passed into the hands of Peabody Houghton, 
and a portion of it at least has been held in the family ever 
since. 



CHAPTER IV 
EARLY INHABITANTS 

The Early Settlers of Princeton possessed the char- 
acteristics of the inhabitants of the average New England 
town. Many of them, perhaps the majority, were sturdy, 
progressive men, exemplary in conduct, of fair inteUigence 
and ready to grapple with the stern reahties of a Hfe in 
these rude lands of Worcester County. 

They came prepared to stay, and a majority of them 
carried out their purpose. But with these or following 
them, there came also (as was the case with every new 
settlement), those who were often changing their abode, 
peripatetic, unstable, resting, as it were, for the night and 
off by the dawn. And with them all, there were a few, 
evidently, whose presence was not particularly gratifying 
or acceptable to any community. 

It would be interesting, could we know the reasons 
influencing these families in their choice of locality for a 
home. Some of the inducements and attractions, beyond 
the ordinary desire to commence anew, in an untried and 
unbroken country, can be readily seen. The most desirable 
lands in Rutland had doubtless been appropriated, and 
naturally some of its people passed over into the adjoining 
easterly wing. The sale of the tract known — or described 
as Watertown farms led many of Watertown, Waltham, 
Weston and Cambridge to invest in land, and also to the 
subsequent occupancy by themselves or their friends. 

Sudbury too, with its thriving settlement, sent out some 
of its young men seeking suitable locations for establish- 
ment of homes, and they were welcomed in the town. 

The early Proprietors residing in Boston and elsewhere 
disposed of their rights to those willing to try the experi- 
ment in the wilderness or made a free gift to friends or 
relatives. 

74 



Early Inhabitants 75 

One family drew another, as in the case of the Miricks, 
Woolsons, Harringtons, Hobbs and Jones, closely allied 
by marriage and kinship. Sons, receiving from their 
fathers, gifts of land, as the Masons, Norcrosses and others, 
married and settled down here. 

Young men venturing into the new settlement in search of 
employment, found not only that but, perhaps, also wives, 
which event quickly settled the question of remaining. 

Identity. But while the reasons governing the many 
may appear, yet in a majority of cases they are not ap- 
parent. Careful investigation fails to record the former 
residence of some of those more or less prominent in the 
district. A few appear to have dropped down from some- 
where and as suddenly to have dropped out, leaving nothing 
to show whence they came or whither they went, and while 
it is not surprising that we are unable to trace the smaller 
families, yet it seems strange that we lose trace of families 
containing six or eight grown-up children and never hear 
from them again. Of some we should know nothing, but 
for a simple record of marriage and the birth or death 
of children. 

The early records of the families furnish glimpses of 
toil, of hardship, of poverty, sickness and death, with the 
intimation, too, of brighter spots which are always to be 
found along the journey of life. 

Dates of Occupation. In attempting to determine the 
year in which the first inhabitants settled here, serious 
obstacles are encountered and an immense amount of labor 
has been expended with very unsatisfactory results. 

It is a fact that many owned their lots for years before 
settling upon them, while it is also true that others were on 
the ground long before they purchased. While the dates 
of the first recorded deed of land may, in many cases, 
approximately determine the day of settlement, in an 
equal number perhaps this conclusion would be at variance 
with well-established data. 

It is a perplexing feature of the town records, that they 
contain the entries of births as occurring in this town when 



76 History of Princeton 

in fact they took place in other localities. And it is 
impossible to give a complete list of first settlers, owing to 
the loss of the earliest tax lists, and even with the later 
lists before us, it is not always possible to distinguish 
between proprietors only and residents. In the following 
lists the names of some single men which appear but once 
upon the records are omitted, and also those who are 
supposed to have been proprietors only. It is quite 
probable that other names should be added, but the list 
is as complete as we can make it. 

First Settlers. There is but little if any doubt that Mr. 
Joshua Wilder was the first permanent settler within the 
territory, establishing his house in 1742 on the " Houghton 
Road," where he entertained man and beast. It is a 
matter of record that there were in 1754 two houses on 
Potash farm but whether they were within the bounds of 
Princeton or over the line, in what is now Leominster, it is 
impossible to say. 

To whom should be assigned the second place in the list 
of incomers, it is difficult if not impossible to determine. 

The following list gives the names of the first inhabitants 
of the District, — 

Settlers before 1761 Lots 

Ephraim Allen 1755 Westboro' L 

John Bartlett 1759 15 

Stephen Brigham 1759 Westboro' 14 

Richard Cheever 1747-52 Boston 16 

Robert Cowdin 1755 Holden 26 & 27 

Oliver Davis 1753 Rutland 31 

David Eveleth 1 755 Rutland 29 

Joseph Eveleth 1753 Sudbury 26 

Robert Forbush 1 757 Rutland 28 

Gideon Fisher 1760 Dedham 28 

John Frost 1759 Billerica North 

Daniel Garfield 1751 Shrewsbury Gardner's Farm 

Moses Garfield 1757 Shrewsbury Gardner's Farm 

William Gibbs 1759 Sudbury 8 Watertown 

Joseph Gibbs 1760 Westminster 30 

Phineas Gleason 1757 Framingham 9 

Ezra Gleason 1760 Framingham 9 

Peter Goodnow 1 755 Sudbury 3 

Zachariah Harvey 1759 Shrewsbury Blagrove 



Early Inhabitants y^j 

Settlers before 1761 Lots 

Samuel Hastings 1759 Watertown 6 Watertown 

Ebenezer Jones 1 757 Bedford 2 

William Joyner 1758 Sudbury North 

Robert Keyes 1751 Shrewsbury Muzzy 

Tille Littlejohn 1759 Lancaster Muzzy 

Thomas Mason 1 756 Medfield 29 

Sadey Mason 1756 Medfield 29 

Paul Matthews 1758 Marlboro 2 Watertown 

Jabez Mead 1760 Rutland North 

Abijah Moore 1 747-50 Sudbury 3 

Boaz Moore 1 759 Rutland 32 

William Muzzy 1755-60 Sudbury 29 

Timothy Mosman 1758 Ashburnham Potash 

Caleb Mirick 1752 Weston 4 

Aaron Perry 1757 Mendon 5 

David Parker 1758 Chelmsford 31 

Abel Ray 1757 Marlboro' Mayhews (near) 

Stephen Rolph 1759 Mendon 10 

Joseph Rugg 1 759 Holden 28 & L 

Amos Spring 1758 Weston ? 6&8 Watertown 

James Spring 1 759 Weston 8 Watertown 

Jabez Stratton 1 759 Lincoln 9 

James Thompson 1 757 Holden 26 & 27 

Joshua Wilder 1742 Lancaster Wilder's 

A True List of the Voters of Princetown District According to the Valuation 
Taken November, 1760. 

Capt. Eliphalet How Ens. Oliver Davis 

Joseph Rugg Dr. Zechariah Harvey 

Ephraim Allen Tim° Moseman 

Isaac Wheeler Robt. Keyes 

William Muzzy L'. Abijah Moore 

Joseph Gibbs Peter Goodenow 

James Thomson Caleb Mirick 

Joseph Eveleth 1 Assessors of Prince 
Boaz Moore j Town District 

Worcester S. S., March 30, 1761 
Sworn to Before me 

Jn° Murray, Justice Pea.^ 

Doctor Harvey. The above list of voters appears with 
other papers relating to a town meeting held in March, 
1 761, at which meeting it was alleged that the Moderator, 
Dr. Harvey, resorted to some unwarranted and illegal 
measures. (The Doctor was chosen Moderator, District 

* From Mass. Archives, Vol. 117, pages 647-652. 



78 History of Princeton 

Clerk, Chairman of the Selectmen and of the Assessors, 
and Agent to the General Court.) 

A Protest was entered upon the records of the town and 
subsequently a petition reciting the grievances was sent 
to the General Court, asking that the proceedings be 
declared null and void. The Court, however, decided in 
Dr. Harvey's favor, confirming the proceedings. 

Attached to the petition referred to are the following 
names, — 

Non- Voters Voters 

Gideon Fisher Isaac Wheeler 

Thos. Mason Joseph Rugg 

Joseph Eveleth Eliphalet How 

Isaac Wheeler, Jr. Ephraim Allen 

Robert Cowdin Oliver Davis 

Sadey Mason James Thomson 

Timothy Keyes Wm. Muzzy 

Pebody How Joseph Gibbs 

The protest on the town records is signed by eight. Feb. 
'63, Harvey as Agent granted 11. 

To his Excellency Francis Bar- 
nard Esq., Captain General and 
Governor in Chief in and over 
the Province aforesaid. 
To the Honourable the Council and House of Represen- 
tatives in General Court assembled on Wednesday the 
twenty-fifth Day of March Anno Domini 1761. 

We the subscribers Inhabitants of the District of Prince- 
town in the County of Worcester and legal Voters in Town 
and District affairs, humbly shew your Excellency and 
Honours. 

That at ye District Annual Meeting held there on the 
sixteenth day of March instant, among other things to 
choose the usual District officers for said District, there 
were several Votes and Transactions altogether illegal and 
unwarrantable and unfairly and unduly obtained by means 
of many persons being admitted to vote at said meeting 
that were not legal voters there, and some that were not 
even Inhabitants of the same. That as the Voters and 



Province of the Massa- 
chusetts Bay in New 
England 



Early Inhabitants 79 

Inhabitants were gathering together for the said meeting 
Zacharlah Harvey of the same District, Physician, who 
was our District Clerk Selectman and Assessor the last 
year, without any direction or order from the Selectmen, 
or without their knowledge or consent, opened the same 
meeting and called upon the said persons present, tho but 
a very small number to bring in their votes for Moderator 
which was then done immediately by such as were present 
the major part of them being no legal voters. 

The chief Part of the officers chosen at said meeting, and 
other matters transacted there, being obtained in the same 
way and manner, and Some Things never put to vote as 
the Warrant for Calling the meeting Required. 

Particularly there was an article in the Warrant to see 
if the District would Choose an Agent to appear at the 
General Court, but the said Harvey instead of putting 
it to vote to see if they would choose an Agent, knowing 
there was none needed, called upon them and insisted on 
their bringing in their vote for an Agent, without knowing 
or trying if it was the mind of the District first, to send 
one as the warrant directed, and so by the number present 
not being legal voters & by some means or other for the 
present being inclined to please him, as the meeting was 
at a Tavern. Voted the Doctor in at said meeting, and by 
that artifice the said Harvey procured himself to be chosen 
the Moderator. Whereupon a number of ye legal voters 
having notice of the Meeting being opened contrary to 
their expectation, the hour for the meeting being scarce 
arrived, as they apprehended, hastened to said meeting to 
regulate matters which they were informed were carrying 
on in such an hasty manner there, and perceiving a con- 
siderable number of persons present & acting which by the 
List of Estate and Valuation taken for the last year they 
knew were not voters qualified according to law to vote 
at such meeting, and also some who were not even inhabi- 
tants of said District called upon the said Harvey who was 
grown the Moderator in the manner aforesaid to purge 
the meeting, To see by the List of Estate and Valuation 



8o History of Princeton 

taken by the Assessors last year and lodged in his hands 
who were voters & who were not of the number present t^ 
offering to vote. 

He answered it could not be done for that he had not the 
list there, and went on calling for votes and acting on the 
articles of the meeting without taking further notice of 
what the Inhabitants & Voters offered and objected to the 
proceeding. 

Harvey drove on and procured himself to be chosen the 
Moderator, District Clerk, a Selectman and an Assessor, 
as well as an Agent to appear at the General Court in 
behalf of said District all which proceedings, your peti- 
tioners humbly apprehend are illegal, arbitrary and de- 
structive of their most precious Privileges, the said Harvey 
being chosen into all the offices aforesaid by a majority 
of such as were not voters according to law, and against 
the Sense and Inclination of a Majority of Such as were 
legal Voters & personally present. 

Seeing which a number of the Voters belonging to same 
District entered their Dissent against said Harvey's 
unwarrantable proceeding (see notes) voted the Doctor in 
their Agent. All which offices the Doctor gravely ac- 
cepted and still attempts to hold. Nor was his conduct 
at our last meeting the only instance wherein the said 
Doctor Harvey hath acted contrary to his duty & trust, 
for on the 23d. Day of October last when the District had 
a meeting to choose an Agent to transact some matters 
in Behalf of said District at the Great and General Court, 
Captain Eliphalet How was chosen an Agent, the said 
Harvey then being District Clerk, refused and neglected 
to record the vote of the said How's being chosen and said 
it was best to burn it, but after that the said Harvey 
himself presumed to appear as our Agent & act accordingly, 
under the colour of his having been once before chosen 
Agent for the said District, though he utterly refused. 

Wherefore as matters are now carried in such a dis- 
orderly way & manner and as we who are the major Part 
of the legal Voters belonging to said District, apprehend 



Early Inhabitants 8i 

is directly contrary to the true intent & meaning of the law 
of this Province respecting such matters, humbly pray that 
the proceedings of this last meeting this March may be 
considered as void, and that the Inhabitants of said 
District may be Impowered and inabled to Call another 
meeting. Choose new officers, accept Roads and transact 
all other matters at some other meeting which might or 
should have been done at the last, in as full & ample manner 
as tho the same had never been held, or Some other way 
Relieve your Petitioners from their oppression as in your 
wisdom may Seem meet and your Petitioners as in Duty 
bound shall ever Pray. 

Settlers 1761-1771} 

Isaac Abbott 1769 Pomfret, Conn Hartwells 

Daniel Ball 1771 Shrewsbury Deadmare 

John Barker 1 761 13 

George Barnard 1762 Brookline Blagrove or Hartwell 

near No. 2 

Richard Baxter 1769 Medfield 19 & 26 opp. Brighams 

Phineas Beaman 1766 Lancaster 20 Watertown 

Samuel Bigelow 1765 Holden 2 Watertown 

Nathan Billings 1769 Hardwick Potash (North) 

Samuel Bixby 1762 Lancaster Blagrove 

John Bowen 1767 Lancaster North Everett 

Micah Bowker 1766 Sudbury 

Thaddeus Bowman 1767 Cambridge 3 

Charles Brooks 1764 Marlboro' 

Enoch Brooks 1765 Concord I Watertown 

Abial Bush 1 765 Marlboro' 

Ebenezer Chamberlain, Jr. 1763 Westboro' i Watertown 

(Enoch Brooks) 

Benjamin Childs 1768 Brokline 

Daniel Clap 1761 Rutland 18 

Anthony Clark 1767 Rutland 26 near Cowdina 

Ebenezer Colburn 1 768 Dedham 11 

Samuel Conant 1768 Stow L&7 

John Cowdin 1 761 

Nathaniel Cutter Woburn 3 ? 

Josiah Davis 1770 Bedford? 13 (Haynes) 

William Dodd 1770 Holden Muzzy'3 

Oliver Dresser 1763 Lancaster Blagrove near No. I 

Moses Eager 1770 Grafton Blagrove near i & 2 

Paul Eager 1767 Shrewsbury L 

Samuel Easterbrooks . . . . 1771 Rutland ? 

* Only those having families included. 



82 History of Princeton 

Settlers 1761-1771} 

Chamberlain Eustis 1771 Rutland ? 

Joseph Eveleth (younger). 1761 Stow 3 Watertown 

David Everett 1762 Dedham 11 Everett 

Ichabod Fisher 1770 Dedham 11 Everett 

Fisher 1 769 Dedham 11 

William Foster 1769 Upton F. northern half 

Timothy Fuller 1768 5 

Moses Gill 1767 Boston 

Phineas Gregory 1768 Weston 9 Watertown 

Elisha Gale 1763 Weston i Watertown 

Elisha Gale (younger). . . . 1767 Sutton Potash ? 

Henry Gale 1762 Weston I & 13 Watertown 

Jonathan Geary 1771 26 

Jabez Gerould 1771 Dedham ? 15 

Daniel Goodnow 1768 Sudbury 3 

Timothy Goodnow 177 1 ? Lancaster Blagrove 

Jonas Goodnow 1 767 

Abijah Harrington 1769 Weston 

Moses Harrington 1770 Weston near Woolsons 

Stephen Harrington 1765 Weston 9 & 10 Watertown 

Jonas 

Asa Harris 1 768 Shrewsbury 28 

Ephraim Hartwell 1760 Concord 30 

Joseph Haynes 1764 Sudbury 13 

Elisha Hobbs 1765 Weston 8 Watertown 

Benjamin Holden 1 762 Dedham 28 

Benjamin Houghton 1763 Lancaster 

Silas Houghton 1 762 Lancaster 

Abner How 1763 Marlboro' 7 Watertown 

Adonijah How 1765 Marlboro' 14 Watertown 

Daniel How 1 769 ? F. 

Joseph How 1 769 9 

Peabody How 1 770 Rutland 24 

Samuel Jewett ? 177 Lancaster 27 Roziers 

John Jones, Jr 1767 Dedham 20 

Edward Joyner 1763 Leominster North 

Cyprian Keyes 1771 Shrewsbury 23 

Timothy Keyes 1761 Rutland 26 

Simeon Lyon 1771 Pomfret, Ct Blagrove near Wymans 

Artemas Maynard 1761 Shrewsbury 

James Mirick, Jr 1 761 Weston 4&A 

Josiah Mirick 1767 Weston 

Humphrey Moore 1765 Rutland 19 

Jacob Morse 1 768 30 

Uriah Newton 1769 Wilbraham ? 

Samuel Nichols 1761 Holden 5 

Joseph Norcross 1763 Weston 6 

* Only those having families included. 



Early Inhabitants 83 

Settlers 1761-1771} 

Ephraim Osgood 1 768 Shutesbury North 

Sylvanus Oak 1771 Northboro' Blagrove 

Solomon Parks Parker. . . . 1767 Needham ? 

George Parkhurst 1769 Lancaster 4 Watertown 

Charles Parmenter 1761 Rutland 15 

Reuben Parmenter 1 768 ? ? 

Andrew Paterson 1 770 Sudbury 11 

Amos Powers 1762 Lancaster 5 

Joseph Phelps 1768 Pomfret Conn Blagrove ? 

William Raymond 1769 Shrewsbury ? 

Thomas Raymore 1768 Dorchester East (Potash ?) 

Henry Rice 1 762 ? 28 

Belcher Richards 1 764 Dedham 29 

William Richardson 1771 Lancaster 9 

Eliphalet Rogers 1771 3 or 2 

Robert Rozier 1 765 Sudbury 27 

Joseph Sargent 1765 Bolton 

Seth Savage 1 761 Rutland 33 

William Skinner 1765 Sudbury 27 

Jonathan Smith 1 767 Southerly ? 

Nathan Smith 1768 24&Willard Parker Place 

Warren Snow 1 764 Blagrove 

Ichabod Standley 1767 Blagrove 

Isaac Stratton 1 767 Lexington 9 

Daniel Sumner 1 764 Mendon 5 

Benjamin Taynton 1761 Shrewsbury 5 

Obadiah Thacher 176 Attleboro' 

William Thompson 1 762 Holden 33 

Isaac Thompson 1761 Rutland 15 

Ambrose Tower 1761 Sudbury 1&2 

Joseph Tower 1761 Sudbury i&2 

Israel Underwood 1 766 ? ? 

Josiah Wetherbee (Jr.) . . . 1766 Stow A. 

Ephraim Wheeler 1765 Sudbury ? 

Samuel Woods 1762 Rutland 13 

Ephraim Woolson 1767 Weston 9 

Elisha Wilder 1760 Lancaster Stevens 

Silas Whitney 1758 2 

Isaac Wheeler & Jr 1758 Medfield 27 

Benjamin Willard 1751 Potash 

Benjamin Wilson 1751 Shrewsbury Willard's or Gardner's 

Farm 

Benjamin Wilson 1759 Northboro' ? East Wing 

Edward Wilson 1759 Shrewsbury Kneeland's 

Joseph Wooley 1755 Holden 2&9 

Robert Work 1754 Upton 28 

Charles (De) Wyman .... 1760 Concord Blagrove 

* Only those having families included. 



84 History of Princeton 

In the above list occur the names of some who remained 
in town but a short time, and in a number of cases the same 
farm is represented by several owners during the period 
indicated. And the length of the list may be misleading 
as to the growth of the town. 

According to a statement of Mr. William Dodd, for 
many years town clerk, there were at the time of incorpo- 
ration 30 families, although this does not agree with the 
statements given in one of the petitions for incorporation 
which names 25 as the number of families in the East Wing 
at that date. There are now no means of determining 
accurately the population in 1759 but it may be estimated 
at from 125 to 150. In 1760 there were thirteen only who 
possessed the required property qualifications as voters. 
In 1764 the census showed a very material gain in numbers: 
57 dwelling houses, 55 families with population of 284 of 
whom 72 were males over 16 years of age. Four years 
later there were 97 polls which would indicate a population 
of some 450; in 1769 106 polls; and in 1771, 121 polls. 
Immediately after the incorporation of the town in 1771 
there was a decided increase of population, which in 1776 
was reported as 701, covering some 140 to 150 families. 
Notwithstanding the trials and privations during the 
period of the Revolutionary War the number of residents 
increased so that in 1781 it is estimated that there were 
at least 800, with 182 polls, loi houses and 50 other build- 
ings, stores, mills, shops, etc. 

In 1790 the number reached 1016, including three colored 
persons, but from this year to the present time the in- 
crease has been very slow, the highest point reached being 
in 1840 when 1347 were shown by the United States 
census. 

Like all inland towns, it has suffered from the loss of its 
young men, unwilling to settle down upon the farm and 
there are no manufacturing facilities in the town to draw 
together mechanics and other laborers. The readiness 
with which all can travel nowadays does not help these 
smaller towns but tends to take and keep away many. 



Early Inhabitants 



85 



CENSUS OF 1790. 



Head of family. 



Gill, Hon' Moses, Esq 
Craft, Revd. Thomas 

Willard, Artemas 

Geary, David 

Dire, Nathaniel 

Rice, Joal 

Rice, William 

Bartlett, John 

Everett, Joshua , 

Wales, Abigail , 

Dodd, William 

Kyes, Robart , 

Bellows, Elijah 

Beamon, Jonas 

Harrington, Abijah. . 

Marbel, John 

Allen, Elisha 

Sawen, Ezekiel 

Ramer, Thomas 

Ramer, John 

How, Israel 

Keys, John 

Keys, Ephraim , 

Brown, James , 

Houghton, Silas 

Roper, Benjamin , 

Chandler, John , 

Richardson, Samuel. . 

Lyon, Alanson , 

Lyon, Seth , 

Wyman, Thomas , 

Ellis, James 

Deadman, Samuel , 

Smith, Jonas 

Kyes, Silas , 

Parker, Thomas 

Fay, Silas 

Whiteker, William. . . , 

Curtis, Mary , 

Munroe, John 

Whitney, Andrew. . . . , 

Murry, Jonathan , 

How, Addonijah 

Rogers, Eliphalet 

Sergents, Joseph 

Sergents, Amos 

Russell, John , 

Beamon, Phineas , 

Harrington, Moses. . . , 

Hager, Abraham , 

Gill, John 

Mirick, Ephraim 

How, Abner 

Norcross, Jacob 



Free white 
males of 16 
years and 
upward in- 
cluding 
heads of 
families. 



Free white 

males under 

16 years. 



Free white 
females in- 
cluding 
heads of 
families. 



2 I 3 
112 

I I 3 
I I 3 
I 3 6 
232 
I I 

I 3 I 
4 .. 5 

1 . . I 
325 

3 •• 3 
234 

4 I 3 

2 .. 3 
124 
226 
I 5 2 
III 
I . . 2 
I 2 5 
I 3 3 
I I 

I 3 I 
232 
I 2 5 
121 
I 2 3 
I . . I 
III 
I . . 2 

1 2 4 

2 .. 4 
I 4 2 
224 

3 3 7 
I 4 3 
I 4 3 

I 
I I 4 
I 2 3 
I I 3 

3 I 6 

1 3 4 

2 . . 2 
2 4 
2 I 3 
224 

1 .. 4 

2 •■ 3 
217 
126 

4 I 4 
I •• 5 



All other 
free per- 
sons. 



86 



History of Princeton 



Head of family. 



Hastings, Samuel , 

Merriam, Amos , 

Merick, John - 

Mirick, Stephen 

Mirick, Caleb 

Evelett, Joseph 

Mathews, Paul 

Hobbs, Elisha 

Gregory, Phinehas 

Mirick, Dorothy 

Brooks, Enoch 

Perrey, Aaron 

Fuller, Timothy 

Parmenter, Reuben. . . . 

Cutting, Josiah 

Parker, Philemon 

Chittendon, Isaac 

Mirick, Ruth 

Moor, Uriah 

Tilton, Joseph 

Fisher, Ichabod 

Rice, David 

Thomson Isaac 

Chase, Josiah 

Andras, Nathaniel 

Underwood, Israel 

Park, Benjamin 

Bartlett, John 

Brigham, Stephen 

Davis, Solomon 

Ralf, Stephen 

Rice, Solomon 

Bangs, Josiah 

Hastings, James 

Richardson, William. . . 

Gill, Micah, Esq 

Brooks, David 

Watson, John 

Cheevers, Bartholomew 

Cheevers, Daniel 

Holbrook, David 

Willard, Solomon 

Ball, Aaron 

Sergants, Daniel 

Thacher, Obediah 

Smith, Isaac 

Stevans, Jonas 

Parker, John 

Newton, Charles 

Gleasson, John 

Kyes, Israel 

Garfield, Eliakim 

Brooks, Charles 

Parmenter, Luther 

How, Peabody 

Mayson, Paul 



Free white 
males of i6 
years and 
upward in- 
cluding 
heads of 
families. 



Free white 

males under 

i6 years. 



Free white 
females in- 
cluding 
heads of 
families. 



All other 
free per- 
sons. 



Early Inhabitants 



87 



Head of family. 



Straton, Samuel 

Mayson, Silas 

Reed, Benjamin 

Baker, Joseph 

Hobbs, Silas 

Hanes, Joseph 

Hanes, Samuel 

Harris, Asa 

Wooley, David 

Willson, Ephraim. . . . 
Gleason, Thomas. . . . 
Goodnow, Edward. . . 

How, Antapas 

Whitcomb, Asa, Esq. 
Coopland, Eliphlet. . . 

Woods, Samuel 

Moor, Humprey 

Davis, Josiah 

Baxter, Richard 

Kilbourne, Calvin. . . . 

Hoit, David 

Thompson, William. . 

Smith, Nathan 

Davis, Samuel 

Holden, Benjamin. . . . 

Fisher, Jesse 

Mayson, Sardy 

Mayson, Thomas 

Felton, John 

Beamon, Silas 

Hartwell, Isaac 

Robbins, Samuel 

Clarke, Norman 

Baxter, Joseph 

Moor, Boz 

Willson, Ephraim. . . . 

Willson, Lewis 

Jones, Nathan 

Hoit, Benjamin 

Everett, Susanna 

Newton, Uriah 

Rugg, Joseph 

Rice, Asa 

Savage, Seth 

Davis, Oliver 

Joyslin, Silas 

Ralf, Edward 

Ellery, Elizabeth. . . . 
Parmenter, Charles. . 
Hinds, Eli. 



Free white 
males of 16 
years and 
upward in- 
cluding 
heads of 
families. 



Free white 
males under 
16 years 



Free white 
females 

including 
heads of 
families. 



All other 
free per- 
sons. 



Princeton Town in the Gore Adjoining. 


Rice, Elisha 


2 

I 
I 
I 


2 

3 

1 


3 
4 
6 
2 




Houghton, Abel 




Allen, Daniel 




Rice, Elijah 





88 



History of Princeton 



Copy of a paper found among the town files, supposed 
to relate to valuation for the U. S. Direct Tax 1798. 





1 

0* 


T3 

1 

a 
9 


45 


i 
13 

1 


Josiah Davis, 




On North of road to Meet- 


576 








ing-house. 










Molly Moore, 




Road Rutland to Princeton, 


804 


8 


48 




Samuel Woods. 




on 19. 
On 13 town road i m. S. W. 
of M. H. 


672 


8 


Z3, 


.... 


John Parker, 




3 miles South of Meeting- 
House. 


550 


4 


6 




Obadiah Thacher, 




3 miles south of Meeting- 
house. 


702 


10 


60 




John Whitcomb, 




North of road to Holden 2\ 
miles. 


684 


4 


19 




Charles Newton, 




35 miles South of meeting- 
house. 


702 


6 


24 




John Gleason, 




On South of road from west 
part to Holden. 


1400 


6 


23 


2 


Widow Mary Brooks, 




On road from Jonas How's 
in Rutland to Princeton, 
3^ miles from Meeting- 
house. 


450 


8 


44 


3 


Jonas & Chas. Brooks 




On road from Jonas How's 
in Rutland to Princeton, 
3^ miles from Meeting- 
house. 


450 


8 


44 


2 


Charles Mirick, 




if miles from Meeting-house 


988 


17 


119 


2 


Peabody How, 




South of road to Holden west 
by town road 2% miles from 
M. H. 


798 


8 


40 




Benj. Holden, 




East side of road to Rutland 
Wood-house, i shay-house, i 
corn-house. 


624 


8 


52 


• • : 


Sadey Mason, 




East side road to Rutland. 


75° 


7 


34 




Reuben Hale, 




West side road to Rutland. 


1064 


16 


57 


2 


Thomas Mason, 




Road to Rutland 3 miles from 

M. H. 
I Wood-house. 


1080 


12 


70 





Samuel Davis, 




East side road to Holden on 

Waldo Farm. 
Kitchen part 18X24. 


720 


20 


120 


2 


Nathan Smith, 




East side road to Holden 
2f South of Meeting-house. 


722 


3 


10 


.... 


Isaac Chittenden, 




3^ miles Southeast of Meet- 
ing-house. 


mo 


9 


52 


.... 


Jonas Steams, 




North side road to Hubbard- 

ston \ mile from M. H. 
Porch 12X12. 


624 


9 


43 


. . . . 


Calvin Kilbum, 




North side road to Meeting- 
house 25 miles bounded on 
South by road. West by 
Thompson, East by Josiah 
Davis. 


ISO 


7 


30 




Elizabeth Cowdin 




East side of road to Rutland. 


948 


7 


22 





Early Inhabitants 



89 





1 


•0 

i 

a 


1^ 


J3 

■.s 




1 




SB 
1 




CO 


22 


127 


w 


Andrew Whitney, 




i\ miles from Meeting-house. 


1073 


2 


Jesse Brown, 




3 miles from Meeting-house 
On east side road leading to 
County. 


702 


4 


25 


.... 


Thankful Houghton, 




2 miles from M. H. North 
side road. 


960 


14 


87 


2 


Samuel Dadman, 




3^ miles from Meeting-house 


990 


12 


78 




Jonas Smith, 




3j miles from Meeting-house. 


1 140 


8 


50 




James Brown, 




South part of Spooner farm 
East side of road. 


625 


S 


26 




John Watson, 




West side County road i 
mile South of Meeting- 
house. 


792 


18 


118 


2 


David Brooks, 




East side County road. 


1000 


23 


145 


2 


Josiah Cutting, 




miles N. by W. from 
Meeting-house. 


672 


14 


76 


2 


Ruth Mirick, 


\ 


east side road to M. H. 


336 


7 


50 


2 


Caleb Mirick, 




Near Meeting-House. 


1080 


27 


ISO 


2 


Solomon Rolph, 




in which he lives on road to 
Hubbardston, i\ miles to 
M. H. 


500 


3 


15 




Susana Ralph, 




Old house on County road to 
Hubbardston. 


SCO 


3 


15 





Mary Rice, 




North side road to Hubbard- 


780 


6 








ston, I mile west from 












M. H. 










John Dana, 




Road to Rutland, i\ miles 
south of M. H. 


1 1 20 


24 


125 


2 


William Whittaker, 




Govr. Gill road 25 miles east 
M. H. 


990 


14 


92 




Amos Sargent 




North side road to Sterling, 


720 


13 


82 


2 


Joseph Sargent 




one mile east from M. H. 


720 


14 


72 


2 


Ephraim Wilson, 




5 mile south of meeting-house 
east side road to Rutland. 
Wood house 30X12 




25 


262 


2 






other dwelling-house on 


728 


8 


34 


.... 






westerly part of home- 














stead on road from Thomas 














Gleason's to M. H. 










Thomas Gleason, 




North side of road to Meet- 


1368 


114 


2 








ing-house. 


1368 


114 


2 




Widow Lois Goodnow, 




Not finished woodhouse 

15X18 
House finished, woodhouse 

18X30 


1 140 


22 


109 


2 


Joshua Eveleth, 




Town road west Qf meeting- 
house, unfinished. 


1 140 


24 


252 


2 


Jolin Jones, 




Town road from County road 
to David Rice's. 


S40 


5 


19 





William Thompson, 




new house 3 miles southwest 
of Meetinghouse. 


1064 


13 


76 




Antipas How, 




On north side road to Meet- 
ing-house. 


656 


7 


38 




Reuben Mimroe, 




On south side road to Bos- 
ton, 25 miles from Meet- 
ing-house. 


684 


3 


15 


. . . . 



90 



History of Princeton 



John Russell, 



Adonijah How, 
Ephraim Mirick, 



South on County road west 
on road to Westminster. 

No. East by heirs Col. Sar- 
gent. 

Homestead north of County 
road to Hubbardston, 120 
rods from M. H. 



^ 


T3 

C 




•^ 

£ 

rt 


i 
•0 


IU.2 








960 


8 


49 


1 140 


26 


170 


1080 


13 


68 





Size of 


Windows, 






house. 


squares. 




John Thompson 


I 38X18 


7 87 7X9 


County road to Hubbards- 
ton westerly by town road 
3 miles to meeting. 


David Rice 


I 36X27 


10 20 6X8 


County road to Hubbards- 
ton westerly on Hubb. 










4 30 6X8 


3 miles to meeting. 2 sto- 


Elisha Hobbs 


I 38X18 


17 220 7X9 
30 6X8 


ries, 1 5 miles from meeting 


Elisha Hobbs 


I 26X24 


S 60 7X9 


Old, unfinished. 


Abishai & Theophi- 








lus Eveleth, occu- 








pied by Theophilus. 


I 38X20 


II 153 6X8 




Phineas Beaman 


I 37X34 


25 351 7X9 


2 stories. Porch 12X15. 


Abijah Harrington. . . 


I 38X30 


25 350 7X9 


2 stories. Porch 14X12. 
Barn 62X30. 2 miles to 
meeting. 


Jonas Keyes. Black- 








smith shop 


43X15 
I 38X30 


3 53 7X9 
13 19s 7X9 


2I miles to meeting. 

Farm yard and bark-house, 


William Everett 








4 miles to meeting. 


Joshua Everett 


I 30X18 


18 204 7X9 


2 stories, 4 miles to meeting. 


Adjoining 


I 32X18 
I 37X28 




I story. 

Half upright, floors laid and 


Abigail Wilde 


I IS 








chimney up. 


Ephraim Osgood 








Houghton Osgood. . . . 


I 36X28 


II 125 7X9 


Front upright. 


Israel Howe 


I 32X16 
I 38X30 


7 93 7X9 
27 336 7X9 


Old addition, 34X10 

2 stories, i mile to meeting. 


Abner How 




(Built in 1786.) 


Ephraim Mirick, Jr. . 


I 40X28 


21 282 6X8 


I mile to meeting. 


Enoch Brooks 


I 30X28 


21 277 6X8 


Part upright with porch. 



Elisha and Phineas Gregory, one dwelling house 40 feet 
by 16, one adjoining thereto 49 by 12 feet, the house 
unfinished. 17 windows 223 squares of glass, 7 by 9 40 
rods to compose the Home lot, if miles from meeting, 83 
acres in the farm; bounds easterly on Stephen Mirick, 



Early Inhabitants 91 

northerly on Abijah Harrington, westerly on Elisha Hobbs, 
southerly on Moses Gill. One barn 60 by 30 wants cover- 
ing, one shed 30 by 10, twenty-nine acres, six acres meadow, 
the rest upland and ordinary, bound N & W on Thos. 
Raymore, S & E Israel How and Edward Raymore. 

Jonas Beaman, one dwelling house, 38 by 30, 16 feet by 
38 two stories high, stone, one porch 12 by 8. 20 windows 
291 glass 7 by 9. 80 rods home lot one dwelling house 
38 by 20. Stone, 2 stories, floors laid only part finished. 
17 windows 360 squares glass 7 by 9. 40 rods home lot 
83I acres, one barn 62 by 28, one barkhouse 40 by 28, 28 
squares glass in Barkhouse. Shed 69 by 12 & one 22 by 10. 



CHAPTER V 
INCORPORATION 

The District and Town. The action of the inhabitants 
and proprietors of the East Wing and the farms adjacent, 
towards incorporation of either or both tracts as a dis- 
tinct town, forms an interesting chapter in the history of 
Princeton. 

The subject had evidently been under discussion for 
several years, but the first public act in relation thereto 
was in the form of a petition to the General Court on the 
8th of June, 1758, by Benjamin Houghton and others 
" praying that certain Farms formerly granted by the 
General Court to Separate petitioners lying near the great 
Wachusett Hill, and contiguous to Rutland East Wing, 
containing a Tract of about six miles by three miles in 
extent, may together with the East Wing of Rutland 
containing about the like quantity, upon which there are 
about thirty families already settled, be erected into a 
Township." 

Unfortunately the original petition cannot be found and 
we lose the names of those who joined with Mr. Houghton 
in this petition. Mr. Houghton owned several large tracts 
of land, purchased of the Province, and lived upon another 
in the Eastern part of (Princeton) near Sterling, hereto- 
fore described as Wilder's purchase, and the scheme pro- 
posed above would naturally appear very desirable to 
him. 

The petitioners were granted leave to bring in a bill, and 
although no such action appears to have been taken, the 
two tracts were surveyed, the East Wing in June 1758 
and the farms probably during the following July or 
August. 

The accompanying plans show the relative situation of 
the two sections and enable the reader to form some idea 

92 



Incorporation 93 

of the nature of the controversy which ensued between 
the two, a controversy which waged fiercely for some 
time. 

The proprietors of the Wing were not at all satisfied with 
the action upon Mr. Houghton's petition, forcing upon 
them the burdens consequent upon the building of roads 
through the farms, and other expenditures, and they 
prepared a petition asking incorporation of the Wing alone 
as a town. The petition is as follows: 

" Province of the Massachusetts Bay, 

To His Excellency Thomas Pownall Esq^ Governor & 
Commander in Chief in and over His Majestys Province 
of the Massachusetts Bay, to the Hon^'"" His Majesty 
Council & Hon^'^ House of Representatives December 29, 

1758. 

The Petition of vs. the Subscribers Inhabitants of the 
East Wing of Rutland soe called. In the County of 
Worcester Humbly shews — 

That the Major Part of your Petitioners Live Six or 
Eight miles from the Nearest Pleace of Publick Worship 
which renders it Almost Imposable for your Petitioners to 
attend and more especially in the winter Season By Reason 
of the Badness of the Roads, that under our Present 
Situation we have no Power To Lay out Roads no Buld 
Bridges nor to Do anything else that may Be an Induce- 
ment to people to Come and Setle amongst vz, the Quan- 
tity of Land Contain'd in said Tract is near about the 
Halfe of Six Miles Squeir as May appear by the Plan 
Hereto Annexed, that we have Now about 25 familys 
Living on Said Tract and we apprehend with a Little of 
your Excellency & Hon*^* assistance we should soon have 
Double that Number to Settle on said Tract. 

Wherefore your Petitioners Humbly Prays your Ex- 
cellen(c)y & Hon""^ Compassionate Consideration and that 
the Lands Contain'd and Delineated in the forementioned 
plan be Erected Into a Town or District as your Excellency 
and Hon"^ In your great wisdom may Think Proper, and 



94 History of Princeton 

your Humble Petitioners as in Duty Bound Shall Ever 

Pray. 

Ephram Wheler Eliphalet How 

Joseph Gibbs Robert Work 

Ephraham Hartwel James Thomson 

Isaac Wheeler Thomas Masson 

Isaac Wheeler Ju Amos Powers 

Boaz Moore Joseph Eveleth 

Ephraim Allen Timothy Keyes 

Benjamin Willson Charly Durntcan 

Robert Forbus Stephen Brigham 

Pebody How Oliver Davis 

George Smith Sadey Mason 

John Bartlet William Muzzy 

Rob* Cowdin 

This petition has the following endorsement. 

" In Council January 5, 1759. Read and Ordered that 
the Petitioners notify the Non Resident Proprietors of 
Land lying in said East Wing of Rutland by Inserting the 
substance of this Petition in some of the Boston News 
Papers three weeks successively that they shew Cause if 
any they have on the second Wednesday of the next sitting 
of this Court why the Prayer thereof should not be granted. 

Sent down for Concurrence 
Thos. Clarke, Dp*^ Secry. 

In the House of Rep^^ Jan^. 5, 1759. 

Read and non Concurred; and Ordered that this Peti- 
tion be Dismissed. Also Ordered that the Petition of 
Benj"^ Houghton & others presented to this Court in June 
last be likewise dismissed. 

Sent up for Concurrence, 

T. Hubbard Spk^l 

This movement of the inhabitants and proprietors of the 
Wing set the ball in motion, and for a time there was 
evidently some active work done by the friends of the 

' Mass. Archives, Vol. CXVII, page 430. 



Incorporation 95 

different parlies, the one favoring the scheme of incor- 
porating the Wing alone, and the other fearing that the 
Farms would be left out in the cold. 

If in those " good old days " a " lobby " existed, it very 
likely had its part to perform in this contest. 

Petition of " The Farms." The summary dismissal by 
the House of How's as well as of Houghton's petition of 
the previous June was doubtless a surprise and a disappoint- 
ment to both parties, and seemed to add fuel to the flames 
or increased motion to the ball of controversy, and the 
contest was renewed with vigor. A month had scarcely 
passed when Mr. Houghton and his allies presented another 
request, fortified doubtless by stronger arguments, and 
perhaps with more signatures than before. 

This petition is as follows : the Signatures to the original 
appearing to be genuine autographs, comprising nearly all, 
if not all of the inhabitants of the Farms; together with 
a few of the proprietors or residents of the Wing. 

To His Excellency Thomas Pownal Esq' Capt. General 
and Governor in chief in and over His Majesties province 
of the Massachusetts Bay in New England to the Honor- 
able His Majesties Counsel and House of Representatives. 

The Petition of the Proprietors and Inhabitants of 
sundry farms Lying between Lancaster and Narragansett 
No. 2 and Contigious to Rutland East Wing So called and 
also proprietors and Inhabitants of Said Wing, Humbly 
Sheweth that said farms and Wing being Incorporated 
into a Destinct Township Will make a very good one and 
Do not Contain the Contents of Six miles square and that 
Said Wing by itself will not be able to Defray the Charges 
of building a Meeting House Setling a minister and main- 
taining the Gosple among them and making Rodes Without 
an Intolarable Hevey Tax, and that said farms are no wayes 
able to Defray such charges by themselves and cant be 
accommodated to aney other town, and will be forever 
Disobliged if not Laid to said Wing and both together Will 
find the charges of a new settlement hevey enough and 
both Wing and farms are at present under very Deficult 



96 



History of Princeton 



Circumstances by the extream Distance and badness of 
the Rodes to the Public Worshep of God in aney other 
Town. We can but Sildom attend it and in the Winter 
Season are quite shut up which circumstances are not only 
Destresing to the present Inhabitants but very Descorag- 
ing to new se tiers. 

Wherefore the Humble prayer of your petitioners is that 
said Wing and farms may be Incorporated as above said, 
Which we as in Duty shall Ever pray. 

January y"" 29th 1759. 

Farms. 
Jonathan Spring 
Timothy Bemis 
Isaac Whittemore 
Jonathan Bulard 
Henry Gail 
Lemuel Jones 
Jonathan Jones 
Braddyll Smith 

Wing. 
Jabez Stratton 
Ezra Gleason 
John Mirick, Ju^ 
Moses Gill 
Amos Powers 
Daniel Sumner 
Aaron Peary 



Benjamin Houghton 
Zechariah Harvey 
Elisha Wilder 
Joel Houghton 
Silas Whitney 
Tristam Cheny 
William Joyner 
Abel Ray 



Robert Keyes 
Tille Litteljohns 
Saml Hastings 
Amos Spring 
Paul Mathew 
Jonas Harrington 
Henry Spring 
Jeremiah Whitemore 



Peter Goodenow 
Richard Cheever 
Jonathan Power 
Abijah Moore 
Caleb Mirick 
Samuel Nickols 
James Mirick 



Elisha Jones 
Isaac Jones 
Nathan Meriam 
Ebenezer Jons 
John Jones, Jun^ 
Ambrose Tower 
Joseph Tower 



In the House of Rep. Febr^ 7, 1759. 
Read and Ordered that the Pef^^ serve the prop'^^ and 
Inhabitants of the East Wing of Rutland (so called non 
petitioners) with a copy of the Pet° by inserting the Sub- 
stance thereof in one of the Boston Newspapers three 
Weeks successively That so they Shew cause (if any they 
have) on the second thursday of the next Setting of this 
Court why the Prayer thereof should not be granted. 

Sent up for Concurrence, 

T. Hubbard Spk^ 
In Council Febr" 8, 1759. 

Read and Concurred, 



A. Oliver, Sec^. 



Consented to 

T. Pownall.i 



' Mass. Archives, Vol. CXVII, page 437. 






l0^Jt->X^ 




/^fe^,4^ 






Incorporation 97 

Protest. The failure of the petitioners to give proper 
notice to the other parties occasioned the following protest 
and action. 

" The memorial of the Subscribers, Inhabitants and 
proprietors of the East Wing of Rutland and the County 
of Worcester. 

They therefore humbly pray that Inasmuch as they have 
never been served with a Copy of a Petition by having the 
Substance thereof Inserted in the News Papers agreable 
to sd order of Court, that sd Petition may be dismised or 
Referred to the next Session of this Hon^'^ Court that so 
they may make answer to said Petition when they know the 
Substance of it. 

And as in Duty Bound shall Ever Pray." 

" Eliphalet How Stephen Brigham 

Sadey Mason Boaz Moore 

Robert Cowdin Charles Parminter 

Isaac Wheeler Ephraim Allen 

Thomas Mason Benj amine Wilson (This is 

not the B. Wilson of the 

north part.) 

William Muzzy Robert Forbush 

Isaac Wheeler George Smith 

Joseph Gibbs Pebody How 

James Thomson Jonathan Fisk 

Oliver Davis John Bartlet 

Timothy Keyes Ephraim Wheeler 

Joseph Eveleth Robert Rozer 

" In Council March 9, 1759. Read again together with 
the Answer of Eliphalet How and others Inhabitants & 
Proprietors of the East Wing of Rutland; and it appearing 
that they had not been notified of the Substance of the 
Petition as the Court had ordered. Ordered that the con- 
sideration of said Petition be referred to the next May 
Session " notice to be given in Boston Papers. 

" In Council June 8, 1759. Again read with the answer 
of the Inhabitants & Proprietors of the East Wing & 



98 History of Princeton 

ordered that Samuel Watts and Benjamin Lincoln Esq''^ 
with Such as the Hon^'*" House shall appoint be a Committee 
to take the same under Consideration hear the Parties & 
Report what they judge proper to be done thereon." ^ 

Rejoinder. The House appointed Col. Lawrence; Cob 
Gerrish & Col. Whitcomb. The time intervening between 
March and June afforded ample opportunity to the pro- 
prietors of the Wing to prepare a vigorous answer to the 
argument of the opponents. It is well worth reading. 

Province of the Massa- To His Excellency Thomas Pow- 
chusetts Bay nail Esq'' Governour & Com- 

mand'" in Chief in & over his 
Majestys Province of the Massa- 
chusetts Bay To the Hon*"''' 
his Majestys Council & the 
Hon^^^ House of Representatives 
in Gen' Court assembled May 
y'30th, 1759. 
The Memorial of us the Subscribers, Inhabitants & 
Proprietors of the East Wing of Rutland (so called) in the 
County of Worcester, in answer To a Petition of the Pro- 
prietors & Inhabitants of Sundry farms Lying Between 
Lancaster & Narragansett No. 2, in sd County, Humbly 
Sheweth — 

That Whereas the said Proprietors and Inhabitants of 
said farms did by their petition To the Honble Court at 
their Session in March last Represent that the said wing 
and farms Being Incorporated into a District Town or 
District would make a very good one; your Memorialists 
Beg leave to say, that they are very sure that Every 
Impartial man that is acquainted with the Situation «& 
Circumstances, of said wing & farms will Readily say that 
the wing of itself will make a Much Better Settlement than 
if the farms are laid to said wing, for this Reason, Because 
the farms in General are some of the Poorest land, perhaps, 
that there is in the Province, and Lyes in a very Bad form, 

i Mass. Archives, Vol. CXVII, page 439. 



Incorporation 99 

and although the said Proprietors and Inhabitants of said 
farms did Exhibit a Plan to Your Excellency & Honours 
that Appeared that said farms lay in a Very good form to 
Be adjoyned to s^ wing; your Memorialists beg leave to 
say that they are very sure that said Plan is not true. But 
Done as they Apprehend to Deceive your Excellency & 
Honours; and as almost all the Best of the land in s^ wing 
Lyes in the Southerly side of it, & the Chief of the Inhabi- 
tants living on that side, and Not Only so, but the land on 
the Northerly side, Never will admitt of Half so good a 
settlement as the Southerly side will and if the farms, shall 
be annexed to said wing, it would Carry the Center of the 
wing & farms to the Very Northerly side of s*^ wing, which 
would oblige the two thirds of the Inhabitants always to 
Travel Three or four miles to meeting, and the great 
Difficulty that your Memorialists must be put to, in making 
Highways & Building Bridges through a very Rough 
Rocky Country will Burden them so, that they had Rather 
have one Quarter of their Real Estate Taken from them, 
then to be Obliged to Joyn with those People where they 
are Certain they shall always live in Trouble and Difficulty. 
And as the Said Wing Contains Better than Twelve 
Thousand Acres of land and is Capable of making a very 
good Settlement of itself and Cost your Memorialists a 
Very great Price, And if your Excellency and Honours 
shall annex those Farms to the wing, we apprehend it would 
be taking away the Rights of your Memorialists and giving 
it to those that have no Just Claim to it — 

Your Memorialists Therefore Humbly Pray Your Ex- 
cellency & Honours wise and Compassionate Consideration 
in this affair and that you would Relieve your Memorialists 
out of the great Difficulty that they must Inevitably fall 
into if they are sett off with the said farms & Dismiss the 
Petition of the Proprietors And Inhabitants of s^ farms, 
and Incorporate said wing into a Town, or District as your 
Excellency & Honours Shall See meet, or otherwise Relieve 
your Memorialists as in your great wisdom you shall Think 
Proper. 



100 History of Princeton 

And as in Duty Bound shall Ever Pray. 

Joseph Eveleth Sadey Mason 

Timothy Keyes Ephraim Allen 

Stephen Brigham Oliver Davis 

John Bartlett Thomas Mason 

Boaz Moore Isaac Wheeler 

Ephraim Hartwell William Muzzy 

Pebody How Rob^ Cowdin 

Isaac Wheeler Jona Knight 

Eliphalet How Jorg Smith 

Joseph Gibbs Robert Forb(us) 

James Thompson Benjamine Willson ^ 

To the casual observer it would seem that the advocates 
of the incorporation of the Wing alone, held the strongest 
position, but the difficulties of reconciling the interests of 
all concerned can be readily understood.^ 
With these petitions are several other papers of interest. 

" We the Sibscribers Inhabitants upon the farms Lying 
Beetwen Lancaster and Narragansett Do pray your Hon'^ 
to Consider the Sad Condition that we shall Be in if s^ 
farms petisioned for should Be annexed to the East wing 
for By Survoing we Do find as we think a Sufficiency of s'^ 
farms for a Township to Settle the Gospel in But if sad 
part petisioned for should Be laid to s'^ wing we Shall have 
no privelidge of the Gospel preached By Being So far of 
tharfor we humbly pray your honers that you would Lett 
the whole of s*^ farms Lye to Gether til Such times as we 
Can Be Incorporated into a Town By our Selves and you 

' Mass. Archives, Vol. CXVII, page 442. 

^ Three plans are on file in the State Archives with these petitions. The 
first, dated June 26, 1758, measuring about 12 by 18 inches, shows the Wing 
alone with an area of 12,899 acres. The second dated, Sept. 4, 1758, gives a 
view of the Wing rated at 1 1,708 acres only, and the farms adjoining contain- 
ing 7283 acres. This plan covers the territory first incorporated as a District. 

The third, dated Oct. 2, 1759, endorsed " A Piatt of the farms," includes 
with the farms shown on the second plan, a large tract of 4900 acres on the 
north embracing "No Town" and extending to Lunenburg line. 

All of these farms were included within the bounds of the town as incorpo- 
rated in 1 77 1, but the 4900 acres were taken off by act of 1773. 



Incorporation loi 

will Greatly as we think add to the interest and welfare 
of your most humble Servants. 

September y^ 28th 1759 Benj* Wilson 

William Joyner 
Edward Wilson 
John Frost 
Tristram Cheney 

The latter, Oct. 5, 1759, desired his name to be " blotted 
oute " of this petition. 

Lancaster October 7th 1759 
these may Certifie that the Lands north of the farm 
Called Potash farms betwixt Leominster & Narragansett 
is Generally Rough Land & will admitt of but fue Good 
Settlements. 

Att Joseph Wilder 
John Bennit 

N. B. The above subscribers were the Gentlemen that 
Layed out the above mentioned Lands and assested in 
Deviding them." 

" October ye 6th 1759 This may Certify Womesoever it 
may Consern that the lands Between Leominster Lewning- 
burge and Narrowgasett No. 2 and as far as potarsh farms 
is Chefly uninhabitable and very bad Land and no waye 
fit for but a very few Inhabitants. 

Test our hands, 

Ezra Houghton. 
Jonathan Wilder.* 

This description of the land as " Chefly uninhabitable " 
will not be contradicted by any of the present generation 
who are at all familiar with " No Town " lands. 

Upon the recommendation of the committee to whom the 
several petitions were referred a special committee was 
appointed " to view the farms & the East wing and report 
to the Court." 

» Mass. Archives, Vol. CXVII, pages 445-447. 



102 History oj Princeton 

Report. On the nth of October their report was pre- 
sented as follows: " The Committee appointed on the 
Petition of the proprietors and Inhabitants of sundry farms 
Lying between Lancaster and Narragansett No. 2 and 
Contigious to Rutland East Wing so called and also 
proprietors of s'^ wing having Repaired to the Land men- 
tioned in s"^ Petition viewed the same And heard the Parties 
are of oppinion that the prayer of the Petition be Granted 
and the s'^ farms together with s^ East Wing be incorporated 
into a Sepperate District agreable to a Plan accompanying 
s"^ Petition and the Petitioners have Liberty to Bring in 
a bill accordingly. 

Which is Humbly Submitted, 
Gam^ Bradford by Order." 

This report was accepted the same day and Capt. 
Richardson was directed " to bring in the Bill," which was 
done the following day. 

The act of incorporation is as follows: 

Anno Regni Regis Georgii Secundi 

Tricesimo Tercio 

L. S. 

An Act for erecting the East Wing of Rutland, so called, in the County 
of Worcester, and sundry farms contiguous thereto, lying between Lan- 
caster and Narraganset number two, into a separate District by the name 
of Prince Town. 

Whereas a number of the Inhabitants and Proprietors of the East Wing 
of Rutland, in the County of Worcester, and the proprietors and inhabi- 
tants of sundry Farms contiguous thereto, lying between Lancaster and 
Narraganset No. 2, have represented to this court many difficulties they 
labour under, and praying that they be made a seperate District. 

Therefore, he it enacted by the Governor, Council, and House of Representa- 
tives, That the said East Wing of Rutland, so called, and sundry farms 
lying contiguous thereto, contained within the bounds hereafter mentioned, 
be and hereby is erected into a distinct and seperate District by the name 
of Prince Town: — viz. beginning at the northwest corner of Lancaster 
second Precinct, being also the southwest corner of Leominster, from 
thence running north 54 degrees west seven hundred and sixty rods to 
a heap of stones upon the line of Narraganset No. 2, from thence run- 
ning west thirty-five degrees south seven hundred and eighty-eight Rod 
to the southern corner of said Narraganset number two, then turning 
and running south-east fifty-six Rod to the northeast corner of said 



Incorporation 103 

Rutland East Wing, then turning and running west thirty Degrees south 
eleven hundred and sixty Rod, on the northwest line of said Wing 
to the westerly corner of said Wing, then running south thirty-nine de- 
grees east sixteen hundred and seventy Rod, being the dividing line of the 
first settlers part of Rutland, the said Wing to the southerly corner of said 
East Wing, then turning and running east thirty-five degrees north eleven 
hundred and fifty rods on Holdin fine to the corner of said East Wing, 
Holdin and Shrewsbury, and from thence running on the same point three 
hundred and ninety Rod on Shrewsbury line to the River, and from thence 
bounding on Lancaster second Precinct to the first mentioned bounds, at 
that the said District be and hereby is invested with all the Privileges, 
Powers, and Immunities that Towns in the Province by Law do or may 
enjoy, that of sending a Representative to the General Assembly only 
excepted. 

Provided, nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That the said District 
shall pay their proportion of all Town, County and Province Taxes already 
sett or granted to be raised on the Towns of Rutland and Lancaster as if 
this act had not been made. 

And be it further enacted, That William Richardson, Esq. be and hereby 
is empowered to issue his warrant to some principal Inhabitant of said 
District requiring him to notify and warn the inhabitants of said District 
qualified by law to vote in Town affairs to meet at such time and place as 
shall be therein set forth to choose all such officers as shall be necessary to 
manage the affairs of said District. 

October 12th, 17 5g. This Bill having been read thru several times in 

the House of Representatives — 

Passed to be enacted. 

S. White, Spk. 

October i6th, iJSQ- This Bill having been read thru several times in 

Council — 

Passed to be enacted. 

A. Oliver, Sec'y- 

October 20th, 17 5g. By the Governor. I consent to the enacting of this 
Bill. 

T. POWNALL. 

Thus ended the controversy so long and so earnestly 
carried on by early inhabitants of the town. During its 
later history there have been struggles equally warm and 
vigorous over matters of far less importance. 

For some years after the organization of the District, 
there was a continual increase in the number of inhabitants, 
and with the formation of a church and establishment of 
schools as hereafter described, there was a marked growth 
in prosperity. 



104 History of Princeton 

The Town. As long as they remained a " District " 
they could send no representative to the General Court, 
which appeared so desirable that in 1771 measures were 
taken to secure incorporation as a town and the following 
petition was prepared, 

" Province of Massachusetts Bay. To His Excellency 
Thomas Hutchinson, Esq., Governor and Commander-in- 
Chief in and over said Province. The Honorable His 
Majesty's Council and House of Representatives in General 
Court assembled at Cambridge. 

The Petition of Princetown, in the County of Worcester, 
humbly shews. That said place composed of Province Land 
and other Lands, and Farms which never before belonged 
to any Town or District to the Amount of near eight 
thousand acres, together with a part of the original grant 
of twelve miles square to the Proprietors of Rutland, which 
part was never incorporated into the Town of Rutland, or 
any other Town, as many of this Honorable Court are well 
Knowing, was in the year 1760 (1759) erected into a Dis- 
trict by the name of Princetown, and was not annexed to 
any Town to join with them in the choice of Representative 
and never can join in any, without being subject to greater 
difficulties, than any District lately made by reason of the 
distance, and badness of the Roads. 

Your Petitioners therefore humbly pray (seeing said 
District was composed of lands, which never before be- 
longed to any town or District) you would out of your 
wonted goodness erect said place into a Town, with all the 
powers and privileges which are enjoyed by other towns 
in this province. 

And as in Duty bound will ever pray, 

Boaz Moore 
Caleb Mirick 
Joseph Sargent 
Ebenezer Jones 



Committee 



The result of this petition was the passage of an act, 
which is summarized. 



Incorporation 105 

By this act all the unincorporated lands adjoining were 
included within the bounds of the new town. This was 
more than was asked for or desired, as it brought into the 
town limits the undesirable lands " (chefly uninhabitable)" 
on the north as far as Lunenburg, entailing upon the town 
additional expense for maintenance of roads, etc. Whether 
this clause in the act was unintentional or the result of some 
treachery on the part of owners of that unproductive 
territory, cannot now be determined. 

The Town expressed its opinion of this matter by de- 
claring by vote in October, 1771, " that it is a hardship 
both to the towns and the farms lately laid to it, that 
they should be annexed, inasmuch as they are in no way 
accommodated to it and that it is impracticable they 
should receive privileges that they be not rated." In 
May, 1772, a Committee was chosen to petition to the 
General Court " to take off the farms lately annexed " 
which was done. 

" A Petition of the Town of Princeton, in the County of 
Worcester, was presented by their Committee to the 
General Court at their last Session Shewing that in April, 
1 77 1, that Place, which before was a District, was erected 
in a Town, and all adjoining Lands which belonged to no 
other Town or District were annexed, unpetitioned for, 
which brings the Town into a very irregular Form ; a Strip 
of Land extended to a great Distance from the Center 
where the Meeting-house stands; that all and every Part 
of said Lands is nearer and Roads may be made with less 
Expense to some other Town or District than to Princeton; 
That the Town is new & almost in its infancy, have been 
and are necessarily obliged to be at great Expense in finish- 
ing their Meeting-House and making new Roads; That 
there are but few Inhabitants on this adjoining Land, all 
of whom usually attend Public Worship; and before their 
Union with that Town paid Province Taxes to some other 
Town and have never paid any there to this day; That the 
Town of Princeton, in addition to all the Burdens of 
Settling a minister, building a Meeting-House and making 



io6 History of Princeton 

new Roads must expend Hundreds or Thousands of Pounds 
to make Roads through this Part, of which the Settlers can 
bear but a very small Proportion; one Road in particular 
lately laid out from Westminster to Leominster through 
said land must cost Eighty or hundred Pounds lawful 
money to make it passable, and people must be called from 
the middle and extreme Parts of the Town, and thereby 
be obliged to travel ten or twelve miles to work on said 
Road; Being subject to so many Difficulties, which in 
Process of Time may be encreased by causing a Removal 
of the Meeting-House. They therefore pray the said Lands 
may be disannexed. 

Several Inhabitants of the said Lands, join with the above 
Petitioners, as they can be better accommodated at some 
other Town or District.^ 

The petition was granted and an act passed Mch. 6, 1773, 
by which the bounds of the town became identical with 
those of the District in 1759. 

Boundaries. No change in the town lines was made 
until 18 10, when a tract of some 490 acres in Hubbardston 
on the westerly side of the town was annexed to Princeton. 
An attempt made in 1793 by Solomon Rolph and others 
to accomplish this failed, but in 1809 Abner Allen, Abra- 
ham Cutting and a few others renewed the petition desiring 
better accommodations both " civil and Sacred " (Petition 
dated May 28, 1809) especially in the winter season. They 
represented that they were located some five and three 
quarters miles from Hubbardston meeting-house, and that 
it would be for their decided advantage if the Brattle farm 
" or Great Farm No, i " was annexed to Princeton, there 
being a good road to the latter town and the distance 
to the meeting-house was but two and three quarters 
miles. 

Notwithstanding the protest of the town of Hubbardston 
the act of annexation was passed Feb. 16, 18 10. 

This tract comprised one of the original divisions of 

' Mass. Gazette, Sept. 3, 1772. 



Incorporation 107 

Rutland " North East Quarter." Its addition to Princeton 
mal<;es the line of the town very noticeable for its irregu- 
larity. 

No Town. The annexation of " No Town " to Princeton 
followed in 1838. By this name a tract of land lying 
between Fitchburg, Westminster, Leominster and Prince- 
ton was for many years known. 

All of this, comprising nearly five thousand acres, was 
included in one of the plans submitted in 1759 to the 
General Court at the time the question of incorporation of 
the town was agitated. In the section relating to Gardner's 
farms, mention is made of some of the early inhabitants in 
the westerly part of it. 

By the act of incorporation in 1771 this whole territory 
was actually included in Princeton, but in 1773 was set 
off. 

In 1837 Commissioners were appointed by the General 
Court to view all the unincorporated lands in the state and 
" make arrangements for their incorporation or annexation 
to the adjoining towns " &c. Their report is printed in 
Senate Document No. 12 of the year 1838. In relation to 
this tract it is stated that there were eight dwellings on it 
" containing in 1831 sixty-four inhabitants, but no mill, 
school-house or public road, the location, the unevenness 
of surface and quality of soil is such that its population 
will never be much increased, and can never possess 
resources of any kind sufficient for a town." The Com- 
missioners proposed an equitable division of the tract, 
by the annexation of 1475 acres to Princeton, 1307 
acres to Westminster and the remainder 2100 acres to 
Leominster. 

This recommendation was adopted and acts in accordance 
therewith passed by the Legislature, April 4, 1838. The 
plans for the whole tract were drawn by Capt. Caleb Dana 
of Princeton. That portion annexed to Princeton con- 
tained 1462 acres of which 800 were woodland, and upon 
the tract there were four dwelling houses and one shingle 
mill. 



io8 History of Princeton 

The line dividing Westminster and Princeton was 
changed by an act of the Legislature, April 19, 1870, which 
annexed to this town a small strip of land previously be- 
longing to Westminster. 

This was done to accommodate one man, and although 
the people of this town did not approve of it they unin- 
tentionally let the bill pass without remonstrance. 







iUJ/JJ.^Y// 






CHAPTER VI 
THE REVEREND THOMAS PRINCE 

Town Name. It is safe to say that the residents of 
Princeton have not been familiar with the character, social 
standing and even greatness of the Rev. Thomas Prince 
whose name the town bears, and who was in many respects 
a remarkable man. 

Birth. Born in Sandwich, Massachusetts, May 15, 1687, 
he was graduated at Harvard College in 1707. For several 
years after graduation he travelled extensively abroad, 
visiting among other places, London, Amsterdam and the 
Barbadoes. 

While in London he preached in several churches and 
was invited by one or more to settle with them, and he did 
settle at Coombs, but his love for his native land led him 
to decline all invitations to remain permanently abroad, 
and in the year 1717 he returned to Boston. 

The Old South Church. His fame as a preacher had 
preceded him, and he was at once desired by the members 
of the Old South Church to become the colleague of the 
pastor. Rev. Dr. Sewall, and a call resulted in his accept- 
ance in 1 7 18, and in this relation he remained forty years 
until his death. It is recorded that in September, 1717, he 
preached a Thanksgiving Sermon at the " Thursday Lec- 
ture " in the hearing of " a multitudinous auditory, many 
belonging to the adjacent towns being present." 

Ordination. He was ordained Oct. i, 1718, the sermon 
being preached by Mr. Prince himself and it is said to have 
been " a wonderful production." Judge Sewall records 
of this service " Sang the Chariots of God are twenty 
thousand." " Entertainment was at Dr. Sewall's house, 
was very plentiful and splendid." (The charge on the 
Deacons' books for wine used on this occasion was 

£5,17,3.) 

109 



no History of Princeton 

Salary. At the time of the marriage of Mr. Prince to 
Miss Deborah Denny, Oct. 30, 17 19, the church voted that 
" Three Pounds five shilHngs per week be allowed and paid 
to Mr. Thomas Prince our Rev'd Pastor from the time of 
his marriage." and that " he be desired by the Committee 
to remove into one of the ministerial houses of the Church 
as soon as may be." The salary thus voted was not a 
meager stipend for the time. 

At first he appears to have occupied the old parsonage 
which was formerly the residence of Madam Norton and 
Governor Winthrop. 

Residences in Boston. In a preface to the second edition 
of his " Chronology " Mr. Prince refers to a valuable 
journal of events relating to the Massachusetts Colony 
" All wrote with the said Governor Winthrop's own hand 
who deceased in this very house I dwell in." This house 
was on the main highway, now Washington Street, opposite 
School Street. It was destroyed and used for firewood by 
the British troops during the winter of 1775. 

Mr. and Mrs. Prince afterwards occupied another 
" Ministerial house " built on Milk Street in the rear of 
the meeting house. It was probably in this latter house 
that he died. The church appears to have had at differ- 
ent periods three or four parsonages. 

Plan for the Day. Mr. Prince commenced with a well- 
regulated household, as is shown by a manuscript found 
among his papers giving his plan for each day's duties, in 
the carrying out of which it is presumed Deborah ac- 
quiesced. 

1 719 Oct. 30 I marry. 

We begin to keep house. 
My proposed order: 

1 At 5 get up and go into my Study. 

2 Pray and read in the Orig. Bible till 6 and then call up the 

Family. 

3 At 6^ Go to Family Prayers and only the Porringer of 

Chocolat for Breakfast. 



The Reverend Thomas Prince iii 

4 At 7 go into my study till 12)4 and then do something 

about the House till i to dinner. 

5 Dinner at i. 

6 At 2 Dress and go about till Candle Light, Except Wednes- 

day, after Dinner, do something about the House: Satur- 
day after Dinner visit Dr. Sewall's till 2]/> and then 
Home. 

7 At Candle Light and Study to 9>4 at 9>4 go to Family 

Prayers and so to Bed: N. B. I eat no supper. 

Quality as a Minister. With a pleasing personality he 
was a favorite with young and old, being in private con- 
versation both interesting and instructive. He was a tender 
and faithful pastor and is said by one to have preached 
as one that felt " the Divine Excellency and importance 
of the Word of God which he preached to others." 

During his pastorate there was great religious prosperity. 
At the time of Whitfield's visit to Boston, he welcomed him 
and joined and rejoiced in his great work. 

One notable incident in his pulpit ministrations in 1746 
is related. A French fleet consisting of forty ships of war 
under the Due D'Aulney sailed from Nova Scotia with 
designs for the destruction of New England. Meanwhile 
a day of fasting and prayer was appointed to be observed 
in all the churches, if by any means a gracious Providence 
in His own chosen way might avert the threatened calamity. 
While Mr. Prince was officiating on this occasion in his own 
church, and was in the midst of a fervent prayer for divine 
interposition, though the day up to that time had been 
perfectly calm, there came a sudden gust of wind, so violent 
as to cause a loud clattering of the windows. He instantly 
paused in his prayer, looked around upon his congregation 
with a countenance illumined with hope, and then pro- 
ceeded to ask God that the wind " might frustrate the 
object of our enemies and be the means of saving our 
country." A tempest ensued in which the greater part of 
the French fleet was destroyed. The General commanding 
surrendered, many died of disease, thousands perished in 
the ocean, and the enterprise was abandoned. 



1 1 2 History of Princeton 

Literary Ability. Of his literary abilities much has been 
written, — " his industry was perfectly exhaustive." In 
early life he showed a marked inclination to collect and 
preserve historical material, which found its culmination in 
the preparation and publication of the New Kngland 
Chronology by which he is perhaps best known, and " than 
which there is none more valuable." He shared with the 
Mathers the reputation of being the most learned man in 
New England in the Eighteenth Century, but surpassed all 
the Mathers in the method, accuracy and usefulness of his 
writings. Dr. Chauncey said of him, " He possessed all 
the intellectual powers in a degree far beyond what is 
common. I do not know of anyone that had more learning 
among us, excepting Dr. Cotton Mather." Others say, 
" an assiduous annalist whose service in perpetuating 
evidence relating to our early history exceeds all others 
since the first generation." " Nothing came from his pen 
that does not now possess historical value. His occasional 
papers are all luminous with the spirit and life of the time." 

Publications. In addition to his ordinary pulpit minis- 
trations he delivered many sermons upon public events, 
and funeral discourses portraying the life and character of 
men and women whose memory was worth preserving. 
It is stated that at least fifty of these public addresses and 
sermons were printed. Many are found in our libraries 
to-day. 

Earthquakes and Lightning Rods. Among other publi- 
cations Mr. Prince published in 1727 a Sermon entitled 
" Earth(juakes the Works of Cxod and Tokens of His Just 
Displeasure," of which in 1755 he issued a reprint with an 
" appendix concerning the Operation of God in Earth- 
quakes by means of the Electrical Substance." He was 
opposed to the use of the lightning rod, regarding all such 
attempts to c?scape the wrath of the Almighty as question- 
able devices. His warning against the lightning rod is 
stated in these words; — "the more points of Iron are 
erected round the Earth, to draw the Electrical Substance 
out of the Air, the more the Earth must needs be charged 



The Reverend Thomas Prince 1 1 3 

with it. And therefore it seems worthy of Consideration 
whether any part of the Earth, l)eing fuller of this terrible 
Substance, may not be exposed to more shocking Earth- 
quakes. In Boston are more erected than anywhere else 
in New England; and Boston seems to be more dreadfully 
Shaken, — O, there is no getting out of the mighty Hand of 
God. If we still think to avoid it in the Air we cannot in 
the Earth; yea, it may grow more fatal." (Extract from 
" The Old Farmer and his Almanac," page 301.) 

Prof. John Winthrop published a pamphlet taking issue 
with Mr. Prince and severely criticizing his statement. 

Psalms. Mr. Prince also prepared a revision of the New 
England version of the Psalms which was used for the first 
time by the Old South Church on the Sabbath following 
his death. 

Rutland Lands. The first evidence discovered of Mr. 
Prince's interest in Rutland lands is shown in a conveyance 
to him by the heirs of Cyprian Stevens, in the year 1727, 
for £120 current money, of one-half of a share, that is, one 
sixty-sixth part of the tract known as the Township of Rut- 
land, which originally was twelve miles square, or 92,160 
acres. Six miles square had been set off for the town of 
Rutland with some other concessions or grants. This deed 
was not recorded until the year 1734. (In examination of 
old deeds one finds evidence that often the recording is 
delayed until some one is ready to go to the shire town, and 
then perhaps half a dozen deeds will be entered for record 
the same day from the same locality.) 

Mr. Prince was one of the ten signers of a call issued 
Oct. 4, 1733. This was published in a Boston paper. The 
meeting was held Nov. 7 in Boston at the Royal Exchange 
Tavern on King St. 

At this meeting thirteen persons were present including 
Mr. Prince. Among the number were prominent business 
men of Boston, many of them members or attendants at 
the Old South Church. Such names appear as Penn 
Townsend, Adam Winthrop, PVancis Brinley, John Jeffries, 
Thomas Fitch and Jonas Clark. Of the eleven and one- 



114 History of Princeton 

half shares represented at the meeting Mr. Prince was 
credited with three shares (or one-eleventh of the whole) 
and his share of the tax subsequently levied was 3o£. 
Nothing appears in print or among the few remaining 
Prince Manuscripts to suggest what led him to purchase 
so large an interest in this tract of land, as there was no 
present, or seemingly prospective, value to the larger part 
of it. But he certainly could not be called a " promoter " 
in the modern use of the word, as he retained his holdings, 
and at the time of his death is said to have possessed some 
three thousand acres all together. There is no evidence 
that he realized any financial gain from his possessions, nor 
did his widow or daughter profit much thereby. 

Among his associates Mr. Prince quickly assumed a 
prominent place, and it was not long before he was engaged 
in plotting out the divisions of the tract, — East and West 
Wings, North West Quarter, North East Quarter. At least 
one of these plans bearing the signature of Mr. Prince and 
the Committee of the Proprietors has been preserved. 
The original plan of the East W^ing long ago disappeared, 
but fortunately a small copy was found by the writer a few 
years ago among papers at Rutland. 

Although not the Clerk of the Proprietors nor their 
Treasurer, there is evidence that he performed a part, if 
not the principal part, of the duties of both these officers. 

One can trace his probable route as he left his home in 
Boston for one of his trips to the interior. He would pass 
perhaps through Cambridge and Waltham to Sudbury 
where he could greet his brother minister and perhaps be 
entertained over night. In the morning he would follow 
the old travelled road to Lancaster, at that period a fre- 
quently used country road. At Lancaster he would find 
another brother in the ministry, a college friend whose 
entertainment he might prefer to the inn. From Lancaster 
he would pass through Chocksett, now Sterling, then into 
the path used by occasional travellers in that direction. 
By this time he would find dwellings few and far between, 
especially when he reached the area now included in our 



The Reverend Thomas Prince 115 

town.^ From this point doubtless the road was very rough 
and as there was no settlement or even occasional houses 
he had to depend upon his own resources for rest and 
refreshment. If he desired to survey his own possessions 
in Lot A which included a part of Little Wachusett, the 
prospect must certainly have been discouraging. 

Gift for Services. The proprietors recognized the value 
of Mr. Prince's services and in 1734 voted " that 63 acres 
on the Southerly part of the 'J2 acres of land in Lot A, not 
having been set off to any of the proprietors by reason of 
the Brokenness of it be granted to the Rev. Thos. Prince 
in consideration of the great care and labour he had taken 
in conveyancing divisions above named." In the prosecu- 
tion of this work he must frequently have taken a journey 
alone or accompanied by a Surveyor or one of the pro- 
prietors. 

Death. The last meeting of the Proprietors attended by 
Mr. Prince was held on the 15th of August, 1758. After 
a long illness during which he said he was " weary of this 
life " he passed away on Sunday, Oct. 22, 1758. ^ 

His last prayer is reported as being a petition " that an 
open and abundant entrance might be ministered to him 
into God's heavenly kingdom." 

Mr. Prince was doubtless buried in a tomb in the Granary 
Burial Ground, — a tomb belonging to the Old South 
Church, — and a marker at this spot now bears his name. 

The preamble to his will, dictated of course by himself, 
shows the greatness of his faith, and is worthy of being put 
into print. 

' There was no tavern in this locality until 1742 when one was established 
on what is now called the Houghton Road. This spot is now marked by a 
boulder. 

2 "The Old South Church," by Hill, Vol. 2 : 40. 

Sunday between five and six o'clock in the afternoon, the Rev'd Mr. Prince 
departed this life after a month's languishment to the inexpressible sorrow of 
his Church and Congregation over whom he had been ordained pastor forty 
years the 1st. day of the month on which he died, which was Oct. 22, 1758, 
his funeral was attended the Saturday following at the expense of his Church, 
who have a just sense of his worth and of their own irreparable loss in his 
death. {Fleet.) 



ii6 History of Princeton 

Preamble to Will. " First and primarily I do hereby 
commit both my soul and body into the merciful hands of 
God my Creator preserver, continual benefactor and 
redeemer (trusting) that of his infinite goodness through 
Christ he will forgive me save me make my imperfect 
spirit perfect in holiness receive it to Glory in the day 
of Christ's second appearance and raise my body, form 
it a perfect and glorious structure, unite my body and 
soul again and acquit and justify me in the public judg- 
ment and then carry me up to live with Him in Heaven 
forever." 

The will devises his real estate to his wife and daughter 
Sarah who afterwards married Moses Gill. (His only son 
Thomas had previously died a young man. He had how- 
ever given evidence of marked literary ability.) 

Lands in Boston, Plymouth Co., Worcester Co., Hamp- 
shire Co., besides those in the several divisions of Rutland 
district are named. A portion of this had been given to 
him, and probably some tracts came through his wife's 
family, but he purchased the larger portion of it, and his 
sales were few indeed. Unfortunately no inventory of the 
estate appears on record or on file. Certainly a record 
of his personal property would be extremely interesting 
today. 

The property left by his father may have enabled him 
to gratify his desire to acquire real estate, and also to 
publish so much historical and religious matter. 

There is a portrait of Prince in the Massachusetts 
Historical Society and a replica is with the American 
Antiquarian Society of Worcester.^ 

P. Pelham fecit. 
Thomas Prince, A. M./ Quintus Eclesiae Australis Bos- 
tonii Novangelorum Pastor E. Collegii Harvardini/ Canto- 
brigiae Curatoribus, Samuelis Armigeni Fileus et Thomas 
A. M. denoti Pater/ Painted for and sold by J. Buck at the 
Spectacles in Queen St., Boston. 

^ J no. Greenwood Pinx. 



The Reverend Thomas Prince 117 

Translation 

John Greenwood painted (it) P. Pelham made (it) 
Thomas Prince A. M. Fifth pastor of the South Church of 
Boston of New England, one of the Trustees of Harvard 
College at Cambridge, son of Samuel Esq. and father of 
Thomas Master of Arts deceased. 

Prince Library. We are indebted to Mr. Prince not 
only for his historical writings which furnish the basis for 
much of our local history in New England, but also for the 
invaluable collection of books, pamphlets, and MSS, which 
he bequeathed to the South Church, and which will stand 
for all time as a monument to his name and scholarship. 

This collection he began to form even in his boyhood. 
One book shows that it was given to him by his mother in 
1697, when he was ten years old; another bears date of 
possession, Harwich, 1701. 

The purpose to collect seems to have become a settled 
one with him upon his entering college in 1703, his object 
being the illustration of the history of New England. 

It was, therefore, at the time of his matriculation in the 
sixteenth year of his age, that Prince systematically laid 
the foundation of a collection of books and manuscripts, 
a large share of which relate to the civil and religious history 
of New England, and which, with unfailing zeal and under 
the most favorable circumstances, in this country and in 
Europe, he cherished and enriched during his long life. 
At the time of his death the New England Library (as he 
called it), we may well believe, was the most extensive of its 
kind that had ever been formed. During the period of our 
Colonial history, the Mather family and Governor Hutchin- 
son are alone to be compared with Prince as collectors of 
books and manuscripts. Their labors in this direction 
avail us little now, for the governor's collection was scat- 
tered by a mob, while the Mather' has been gradually 
dispersed.' 

• From Introduction to Cat. of Prince Library, pub. by City of Boston in 

1870. 



Il8 History of Princeton 

The large collection of books, maps and plans which he 
left by will to the Old South Church was sadly depleted 
during the days of the Revolution, when the British soldiers 
occupied the meeting house where the collections were 
stored, many of them in the steeple chamber. Fortunately 
some were saved and are now in the Boston Public Library. 
A catalogue of these has been published and is interesting 
to examine, while the books themselves cause one to feel 
that he is in the very presence of Mr. Prince. Other 
valuable historical material is held by the Massachusetts 
Historical Society. 

Prof. Tyler says of him: — " He had prepared himself for 
the public service by diligent study at home, and by eight 
years of observation abroad ; he was a man of most tolerant 
and brotherly spirit; his days were filled by gentle and 
gracious and laborious deeds; he was a great scholar; he 
magnified his office and edified the brethren by publishing 
a large number of judicious and nutritious sermons; ... he 
took a special interest in physical science, and formed quite 
definite opinions about earthquakes, comets, ' the electrical 
substance,' and so forth. 

" For all these things he was deeply honored in his own 
time, and would have been deeply forgotten in ours had he 
not added to them very unique performances as a historian. 
No American writer before Thomas Prince qualified himself 
for the service of history by so much conscientious and 
specific preparation; and though others did more work in 
that service, none did better work than he." 

Lord's Day, Nov. 12, 1758. 
The Church stay'd and voted, 

That the Pastor and Deacons with the Hon. Andrew 
Oliver, Esq. (then the secretary of the province) be a 
committee to receive the Books, &c. bequeathed to this 
Church by our late Pastor, the Rev'd Mr. Thomas Prince, 
in his last Will. 

Joseph Sewall. 



The Reverend Thomas Prince 119 

This will was dated Oct. 2, twenty days before his 
death. He provides for the manufacture of a sacramental 
cup for the Church, and he gives his Hebrew Bible in 
two volumes, and his Greek Testament to his colleague. 
He then disposes of his library in two parts, his books in 
Latin, Greek, and the Oriental languages to be kept for 
the use of the ministers of the church; and the collection 
which he designates as the New England Library to be 
preserved apart and intact as a reference library, under the 
control of the pastors and deacons of the Church. This 
collection was in the " steeple Chamber " which he had 
probably used as his study, and here it remained for many 
years. The vicissitudes through which it has passed are 
too painful to contemplate. It undoubtedly suffered 
severely during the British occupation of the town and 
desecration of the meeting-house. It afterwards suffered 
from the neglect and from a want of appreciation on the 
part of its custodians of its intrinsic value. 

Many of its treasures have drifted away from it and are 
now among the chief attractions of other collections; but 
despoiled as it has been by time. It is a splendid fragment, 
and as such, under existing arrangements for its care and 
preservation, it Is now safe. 

" As Michael Angelo, in his blind old age, was led to the 
* Torso Belvedere ' In the Vatican, that he might pass his 
hands over it, and enjoy through touch the grandeur of its 
lines, so will scholars come and continue to come from all 
parts of the land to what remains of the New England 
Library, that they may gather knowledge and inspiration 
from its treasures." 

Life's Work. Forty years before, when entering upon 
his ministry in Boston, Mr. Prince preached from the words 
of the Psalmist: " But I will hope continually, and will yet 
praise thee more and more. My mouth shall show forth 
thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day, for I know 
not the numbers thereof, I will go Into the strength of the 
Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even 
of thine only, O God, thou hast taught me from my youth; 



120 History oj Princeton 

and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works." 
Psalm LXXI, 14-17. 

He was, in the strength of his early manhood, just 
installed in a position of commanding influence, and with 
a career of honor and usefulness, bright with promise, yet 
of course all uncertain, lying before him. Could he have 
preached a sermon to his people in his declining years in 
anticipation of the close at no distant day of his pastoral 
work among them, he might well have made reference to 
that first sermon, and then have taken for his text the 
remainder of the passage, which would have been inappro- 
priate in 1 7 18, but most appropriate in 1758: " Now also, 
when I am old and grey headed, O God, forsake me not, 
until I have showed thy strength unto this generation and 
thy power to every one that is to come." 

Of the value of Mr. Prince's historical labors we have 
this estimate by another writer whose attainments and 
sympathies made him a competent judge: 

" The 22d of Oct. (1758) will be remembered as a re- 
markable day in the history of the town, and not only of 
Boston, but of New England; for in that day died the 
Rev. Thomas Prince, a benefactor to his country; leaving 
a name which will be venerated to the remotest ages, if 
literature shall then be valued; a name which may with 
pride be emulated by the inquirers after historical knowl- 
edge, and the admirers of precision and accuracy in the 
paths of history." ^ 

1 Hist. Am. Literature, Vol. ii, p. 144; Drake's Hist, and Antiq., p. 646. 

NOTES 

New England Magazine, '86, Vol. 4 : 347; New England Library and its 
Founder by Victoria Reed. 

The Boston Library contains, on its depleted state, 1500 books and tracts 
relating to America during the period of our colonial history. It also gives an 
excellent account of his life, his character as a minister, and refers to his 
children — three daughters and one son. 

In the Boylston Mansion is a beautiful portrait of Mrs. Sarah Gill, his 
daughter. 

A tall clock that he prized is the property' of Mrs. Addison Denny of 
Leicester. 



The Reverend Thomas Prince 121 

The Hinckley papers tell of his grandmother as being a beautiful woman 
and exceptional in other ways. 

Deborah Denny grew up in England as a child under his ministrations. 
She came to New England to live with her brother on the same boat by which 
Mr. Prince returned to his native land. She was ten years his junior. Two 
years later he married her. 

It is hoped that some benefactor will present a portrait of Mr. Prince to 
the town. 



CHAPTER VII 
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 

First Difficulties. The earliest inhabitants of Prince- 
ton were dependent for privileges of public worship upon 
the neighboring towns of Rutland, Holden, Lancaster and 
Westminster. But the many miles of travel over roads 
imperfect in construction and often impassable from the 
snows of winter and the mud of springtime, prevented 
regular attendance, and those whose hearts yearned for 
their accustomed privileges were obliged to content them- 
selves by their own firesides. 

Meetings at Private Houses. As the population in- 
creased and facilities for travel improved, it became 
feasible for a few families to gather together in some private 
house where a religious service was held, with occasionally 
a sermon. At one time one room in the tavern of Abijah 
Moore furnished sufficient accommodation for the audience 
assembled to hear the preaching of the Word. The 
attendance was never large, and the Sabbaths thus occupied 
were few in number and only during the summer season, 
but the number of these gatherings was gradually in- 
creased, extending over several months of the most favor- 
able season. 

Mr. Harrington's Sermon. Of the character of the 
services, the preaching, the attendance, no record remains. 
The people came, received the Word with gladness and 
departed to their homes. Some rode on horseback, others 
walked and in some cases through mere paths guided by 
marked trees or familiar objects by the way. One sermon 
preached the Sunday before the first town-meeting and 
published at the expense of the people of Princeton district 
by Rev. Timothy Harrington of Lancaster at the tavern 
of Abijah Moore to " a handful of us who found our way to 







peaceable Temper, and Condu^J: 
divinely enjoined. 



inni /iy 



DISCOURSE 

Delivered at Princetowx, 

On Deamber 23d 1759. 




By Timothy Harrington^ A. 

Paftor of the Firft Church in Lantafler, 



If it ht poSible^ iive peaceablj 'mith all Men,— Ap«fUc PAUt. 

Lit there h no Str'tfn betikeen thee^ aTtd «?, I pray ihce, for ow ar^ 
Bttthrtn. Patriarch Abraham. 

BthUd hov} good, and hvm plcafant it if, for Brethren /» d'-Jiell to 

gtihtr in Unity, Thert ths Lord commandeth the BUfing. 

KingDAvio. 

ByCtncordfmallThingtincreaff, ^ ' Dutch Motto, 




<v^ ^- "^^ ^ - . 

BOS ^T O N: 

Printed antl Sold by Edes aiul Oil!, in Qucen-Sf1f%ef> 
M.DCCLX. 



/: 




To the Inhabitants of Princetmn^ 




HIS pifcQurfe, pub- 
liihed at their Requeft 
and Expence, is now in- 
fcribed. And that the di- 
vine Bleffing may attend 
it, and reft on that infant 
Society, is thefincerePrayer 
pf their affured Friend. 

The Author. 



?v<k;SS;;^;^;J^;^;^? 



Ecclesiastical History 123 

church by marked trees " (as told by one of the number) 
has been preserved In print. ^ 

The incorporation of the District in October, 1759, led 
to serious considerations of the subject of the erection of 
a meeting-house and the settlement of a minister of the 
gospel. 

The First Meeting House. It was always one of the 
first acts of a New England town to provide for the spiritual 
needs of the people, to be followed by provision for edu- 
cation of the children. But a majority of the settlers here 
were poor, and all had been at great expense in starting out 
in their new life, and hence found it difficult to contribute 
in any great measure towards public or private demands. 
The amount of available cash at that period in the average 
family, dependent upon the proceeds of the farm, must 
have been wonderfully small. 

The system of barter, by which the products of one 
industry could be exchanged for others, was really the only 
method by which they could procure the necessaries and 
conveniences of life. 

Location. If the financial problem was difficult to solve, 
the location of the projected house of worship was equally 
so, provoking discussion and eliciting as many opinions 
probably as there were legal voters in the town. But early 

^ A peaceable Temper and Conduct 
divinely enjoined. 

A 

DISCOURSE 

Delivered at PRINCETON 

On December 23d. 1759 

By Timothy Harrington, A.M. 

Pastor of the First Church in Lancaster 

If it be possible, live peaceable with all men etc. 

To the Inhabitants of Princetown. 

This Discourse, published at their Request and Expense 13 

now inscribed. And that the Divine Blessing may attend it, and 

rest on that infant Society, is the Sincere Prayer of their assured 

Friend, 

The AUTHOR. 



124 History of Princeton 

in the year 1760, only a few months after its incorporation, 
the district voted to build a meeting house " within two 
Rods of the most southerly corner of Mr. Caleb Mirick's 
Land." The selection of this spot was doubtless owing to 
the proposed gift of the necessary land therefor by John 
Mirick, Jr., then of Weston, and Caleb Mirick of Prince- 
town, who on the 5th of June of that year executed a joint 
deed to the district " for an Encouragement for Building a 
public meeting-house in said District for the Worship of 
God, and accommodation of a training Field." 

This lot of five acres upon which the house was finally 
erected was in " Lot Number Four " of the East Wing and 
described in the deed as " beginning 80 rods north of the 
most easterly corner of Letter B, and running north 40° 
west, 40 rods by Letter B, thence east 32° north 20 rods, 
thence south 40° east 40 rods, thence west 32° south 20 
rods to the first point." 

The easterly line of lot " Letter B " runs in the rear of 
the present town hall, and the most easterly corner thereof 
is about ten rods north of the present parsonage; from 
thence the northerly line runs nearly northwest, crossing 
the road near the top of the hill and on by the old cemetery. 

But the passage of this vote did not ensure the speedy 
prosecution of the work. Dissatisfaction with the loca- 
tion, with perhaps questions of policy of which we get only 
vague hints from the records, occasioned long delay in the 
building. An attempt was made in February, 1761, to 
commit the town to some positive movement, but without 
success. In the warrant for the regular March meeting 
of that year two articles appeared expressive evidently 
of the desires of the two factions into which the voters 
had separated. 

The first article read " To see if the Destrict will vote to 
build the meeting house, to wit — the house for the publick 
worship of God in some other place then that which it is 
allredy Voted to be built on and vote aney thing Relating 
thereunto that the Destrict Shall think proper or otherwise 
vote where the said meeting house shall be built." 



Ecclesiastical History 125 

The second article read " To see if the Destrict will vote 
to build a meeting house as soon as can be conveniently 
and choose a committee for the same and make Report 
unto the Destrict upon what terms they can git it built 
and when, or act any thing as the Destrict shall think 
proper." 

This last article was passed over, the following action 
having been taken upon the first. 

Voted " that Co" John Whitcomb of Bolton, Deacon 
Samuel Perce of Holden and Deacon Joseph Miller of 
Westminster be a Committee to measure the said Destrict 
of Princetown, and find the Center thereof and afix or order 
the place for building the meeting house on, to wit, the 
house for the publick worship of God and if the Center be 
not Sutable ground to build said house on then on the 
nearest place to the Center that is Sutable according to the 
best Judgement of said Committee and they are desired 
to make return thereof at the adjournment of this meeting, 
and it is also voted that Mr. Thos. Harmon of Rutland, 
and Deacon Jonathan Livermore of Westborough be Sur- 
veyours for the purpose above said and that all the said 
Committee and surveyours be under oath for the trust 
Committed to them as above said." 

" Also voted that the vote for building the said meeting 
house within two rods of the most southerly corner of 
Mr. Caleb Myricks Land be and hereby is Revoked and 
Discontinued." 

This committee was eminently fitted for the duties 
assigned them, but unfortunately their report was not 
recorded and we know not what was their " best judg- 
ment"; we do know however that the majority of the 
voters refused to accept it when presented. The following 
June they authorized the payment of the bill of expenses 
of the worthy Committee, amounting only, however, to 
the sum of £6.9. and proceeded to exercise their own " best 
judgment " in the matter, resulting in the passing of a vote 
on the 22d of July, 1761, that " the meeting house for the 
publick worship of God be built on the highest part of the 



126 History of Princeton 

Land given by Mr. John and Caleb Mirick to the District 
for their pubHck use near three Pine trees marked on the 
northerly side, being near a large flat rock." ^ 

This action settled the location of the house, those 
present knowing better than we do which of the ten 
thousand rocks on the hill was thus honored. The pine 
trees gave way to the building, but the rock may still be 
there. 

Some of the good people were not quite ready to submit 
to this decision and even a year after this vote, an attempt 
was made to effect a change. On the same day of this 
decision, July 22, 1761, appears the following record relat- 
ing to preaching. " Voted to hire two months preaching 
& the preaching be at Mr. Caleb Mirick's House." Ap- 
propriations for payment for preaching were regularly 
made thereafter until the settlement of a minister was 
effected. 2 

Measures for the erection of the house were first taken 
on the 5th of the following October when it was voted " to 
build a Meeting house for the publick Worship of God, 
and that s^ house shall be fifty foots Long and forty foots 
wide." 

" Voted that Cap* Eliphelet How, Robert Keyes, Caleb 
Mirick, James Thompson and Boaz Moore be a Committe 
to see on what tearmes they can get the timber for s^ 
Meeting house and get s*^ house framed and make report 
to Destrict at adjournment." 

At the next meeting it was " voted that Lieut. Abijah 
Moore shall build the Meeting House Frame and that he 
shall have £66-13-4 ^or the same and the Destrict shall be 
at the cost of the timber standing and raising the same." 
And a Committee was chosen to prepare the necessary 
articles of agreement with Lieut. Moore. 

The Raising. In fulfillment of this contract Lieut. 
Moore proceeded to build the frame of the house which 
was completed and raised June 30, 1762 with the customary 

* Is this "Sunset Rock?" 

* Nov. 3, 1766 "Paid" Joseph Eveleth for dinnering the minister. 



Ecclesiastical History 127 

accompaniments without which there could not in those 
days be a successful " raising." 

The male portion of the inhabitants came together to 
assist in placing the frame in its proper position and also to 
lend their aid in the disposition of the tempting viands 
prepared by Capt. Moore and served on the hill. The cost 
of the frame was £71-13-4 and Capt. Moore received in 
addition the sum of £28-16-9-3 " for finding Provisions 
for Raising the Meeting House." What " depths of mean- 
ing " are hidden beneath those innocent words " finding 
Provisions for the Raising " !!! Perhaps a few biscuit with 
some cheese, considerable cider and a great quantity of 
West India Rum. 

It may be a mistake to imply that all the men of the town 
were there (though we doubt if they could resist the 
attractions) for there was evidently a holding back of 
enthusiasm on the part of some. There is a bit of malicious 
spirit hovering over the article for a meeting in July at the 
" Meeting House Frame to see if Doct'' Zachariah Hervey 
& Others that bid any thing as an Encouragement to the 
District to Build the Meeting House where it now stands 
will be as good as their promis and give Security for the 
same." No action was taken upon this article and it is 
presumed that the Doctor made his promise good. Dur- 
ing the early fall of 1762 the roof was " Boarded & Shingled 
& the sides closed with Rough Boards." 

On the 30th of May, 1763, a district meeting was held 
in the building, but there were then no floors laid, and 
no windows or doors, a condition tending to urge the 
voters to see that the work was prosecuted more vig- 
orously. 

The main floor was not laid until 1764, the gallery floor 
not until 1767, neither was the house plastered within or 
painted without until the year 1770. At what date the 
building was finished (if it ever was) it is impossible to 
determine, but the records of the town for twenty years 
show that the house was incomplete. It is probable, how- 
ever, that religious services were held there during the year 



128 History of Princeton 

1764 after the window frames and sashes were put in, the 
floor laid and some of the seats built. 

January 2, 1764, " Voted to Clabboard ye meeting house. 
To put up Window frames & Sashes.^ To Lay the Lower 
floor to build the doors & body of Seats & the pulpit." 
(The pulpit was subsequently painted and stairs leading 
up to it built.) 

April I, 1765, "Voted to Return thanks to Mr. Moses 
Gill of Boston for his generosity to the district in giving the 
glass to glaze the meeting house withall." 

Description. The building was a very plain structure 
without ornaments and for many years without paint. 
There were three porches and doors to correspond, one on 
the east side, one on the west side, and one on the south 
where were the " Great doors." Although it has been 
stated, and doubtless upon good authority, that there was 
no steeple, yet a picture printed in 1792 of Mr. Gill's 
residence shows in the background a spire towering above 
the hill. This may have been a fancy of the artist but it 
scarcely seems probable. A house similar in size and 
arrangement is still to be seen on Chestnut Hill in Mendon. 

Of its interior construction we have more particular 
knowledge. The pulpit was in the center of the north side 
and galleries extended across the other three sides. As 
indicated in the accompanying sketch the square pews 
occupied the wall space, eighteen in all. 

Each pew was about four feet by ten in size with excep- 
tion of the corner pews which were somewhat larger. These 
were built eight or ten inches above the floor. The centre 
of the house was originally occupied with ordinary benches 
or seats, the main aisle or " middle alley " running from 
the " great doors " to the pulpit. LTpon the right of this 
aisle were the " women's seats " and upon the left the 

' Note. A round window, perhaps one of those glazed at Mr. Gill's expense, 
was taken from the first meeting house upon its demolition, and for many years 
stored in Mr. Ephraim Beaman's Barn. Through the thoughtfulness of 
Mrs. Boylston it was secured and placed in the front of the present Congrega- 
tional meeting house. There were probably two of these round windows, as 
we find an item of expenditure of "7S for lead for the round windows." 



Ecclesiastical History 129 

" men's seats." This main aisle was about four feet in 
width and the other aisles about three feet. 

The gallery was furnished with rude seats, with one or 
two boards running laterally for the back, forming any- 
thing but a comfortable resting place for the worshipper. 
In the center of the south gallery was a partition sepa- 
rating the men's side from the women's, the stairs lead- 
ing to the gallery being correspondingly designated. In 
later years it is probable that a few pews were built 
in the gallery for some who could not be accommodated 
below. 

A portion of the space occupied by the seats in the body 
of the house was, after a time, sold or given to individuals 
for the erection of pews thereon, at their own expense. 
Gifts of " pew ground " were frequently made conditioned 
upon the performance of certain good offices to the church 
or town. From the indefinite description given in the 
records, it is impossible now to determine how much of 
this space was eventually occupied by pews, although the 
inference is drawn that about one-half was so utilized. 

It was the usual custom of the day to " dignify the meet- 
ing house " that is to assign the sittings to families or 
individuals by some scale of distinction, either age, property 
or social standing — sometimes taking all three into ac- 
count. This duty, appearing to us replete with difficulties, 
was performed by a committee presumed to possess the 
necessary discretion and grace coupled with " worldly 
wisdom." Whether the result was in any degree more 
satisfactory than if attempted by a committee of Princeton 
today, we have no means of judging. 

In compliance with this custom the following action 
was taken in a district meeting March 3d, 1766. 

" Voted that the Pew Ground be sett at forty pounds and 
also the highest payers upon real & personal Estate by the 
last years invoice may have Liberty to Draw the same by 
what they are estimated at by ye Committee Chosen for 
that purpose which are to Dignify the same." 

The report of the Committee gives the names of the 



130 



History of Princeton 



principal men then resident in town and the comparative 
value of their estates. 

" The Committee appointed in Princetown to estimate 
and Dignify the pew Ground in their meeting house met 
ye 26th of May, 1766, and made following Estimation." 



mens names. 



valuation numb' 



pay for Choice. 



Zechariah Hervey 

Oliver Davis 

Caleb Mirick 

Ebenezer Jones 

Joseph Gibbs 

Eliphalet How. . . . 
William Muzzy. . . 

Benj" Holden 

Joseph Sergeant. . . 
Peter Goodnow. . . 

Robert Keyes 

Sady Mason 

Thomas Mason. . . 
William Thomson. 
Benjamin Tayntor 

James Mirick 

Boaz Moore 

Stephen Brigham. 

Aaron Pery 

Silas Houghton. . . 

Joseph Rugg 

Robert Cowdin. . . 
Samuel Bixby 



95 « 
65 19 
62 10 
59 6 
52 4 
48 18 
46 19 
45 15 
43 13 



38 
38 
37 
37 
36 



34 18 15 
34 7 16 

2,3 
32 
31 
31 
28 
27 



8 17 
4 18 

4 19 
10 20 
8 21 
8 22 
8 23 



8 o 



17 4 
15 4 
II 4 
9 4 
8 o 
4 o 
3 o 
2 8 
2 o 
I 4 
o o 
4 
4 
4 



17 

13 

II 

10 8 
6 8 
6 o 
5 o 
4 o 



" According to the above Estimation we have Supposed 
the pews to be Built as followeth three on the East Side 
of the great doors and three on ye west Side all of them of 
Equail bigness two on ye west Side of the pulpit of Equil 
bigness with the Minister pew two on the north Side of 
the East and west Doors of Equil bigness one on the south 
side of s^ Doors of Equil bigness and the Side pews in (place 
of) four hind Seats as was Voted at the Last meeting." 

Timothy Keyes 

W" Muzzy 

Ebenezer Jones f Committee 

W"^ Thomson 

Zachariah Harvey 



At the next meeting a drawing for the pews took place. 



Ecclesiastical History 



131 



1 Choose ye first pew on the right hand of the great doors. 

2 " " second pew on the east side of the pulpit. 

3 " " pew next to minister pew. 

4 " " middle pew on the East side of the great doors. 

5 " " second pew on the west side of the great doors. 

6 " " first pew on the west side of the great doors. 

7 " " first pew on the East side of the pulpit. 

8 " " second pew on the north side of the East door. 

9 " " second pew on the north side of the west door. 

10 " " first pew in the Seats on the East side. 

11 " " j^j-gj. pg^ jjj ^j^g Seats on the west side. 

12 " " first pew on the north side of the East door. 

13 " " pew between the East door and Stairs. 

14 " " pew between the west door and Stairs. 

15 " " pew on the northwest corner. 

16 " " first pew on the north side of the west door. 

17 " " (-Jiii-d pew in the Seats on the East side. 

18 " " third pew in the Seats on the west side. 

19 " " third pew on the west Side of the great doors. 

20 " " pew in the northeast corner. 

21 " " Second pew in the Seats on the East side. 

22 " " Second pew in the Seats on the west side. 

23 " " third pew on the East side of the great doors. 

It will be noticed that Dr. Harvey, who had the first choice, 
selected that on the right of the main entrance — a spot 
affording the occupants an excellent opportunity to see all 
that was going on in the house and also giving the good 
physician the means of quietly slipping out to attend the 
calls of his patients if any such he had. 

As might be expected, the result was not pleasing to all 
and a protest was quickly entered by the disaffected. 

Protest. " The Descent hereafter mentioned was en- 
tered at the above said meeting on ye 28 of May, 1766. We 
enter our Decent against the proceeding of this meeting 
for these reasons viz. — Whare as Unequallity of sum mens 
places being sett all most as high again as sum others which 
the proffits are near double for which reason sum men Loose 
their right of Drawing a pew. 2dly for not having a Dist. 
Clark reagerly chosun & sworn in Form." 

Joseph Eveleth 
Eliphalet How 
Tilly Little Johns 



132 History of Princeton 

As conditions changed new assignments were resorted 
to to meet the new requirements, and the house was 
" dignified " several times although not always on the 
same basis. 

In 1768 it was voted to " seat the Meeting House by the 
Valuation taken in the year 1766 " and to have " Reference 
to Age as well as to pay.'' As late as 1780 a similar vote 
was passed to seat the house " upon the two last years pay 
having Reference to Age," a combination calculated to 
silence the disaffected. 

For many years scarcely a town meeting was held 
without its discussion about alterations or improvements 
in the house, and the numerous votes indicate the exceed- 
ingly crude condition of the building and the caution with 
which any changes tending to completion were made. 

Some abstracts from the town records are here of interest. 

May 8, 1766 " Voted to Take away four of the hind 
seats two of aside & Build pews and the ground be Sett at 
nine pound six Shillings & Eight pence & the Committee 
that was Chosen to Estimate ye other pew ground to 
Estimate this with ye other." " Also voted to Build six 
pews in the Room of the Seats and not to raise them but 
half as high upon the floor as the other pews on the foreside 
& the Seats not to be taken away till the pews are ready to 
be put up." (The disposition of the space alloted for the 
seats appears to have been a perplexing question. These 
two votes were reconsidered just one year later and at 
frequent intervals the subject was before the people. 
From the many votes, reconsiderations and apparently 
counter action it is impossible to determine how much of 
the space was eventually covered with pews.) 

June 19, 1766. " Voted to build the Stairs into the 
galleries." 

June 4, 1767. " Voted to lay ye Gallery floores & build 
a brest work & set up ye Pillars in their proper places & 
also build ye fore seats Round ye Galleries." 

Mch. 7, 1768. " Voted to give Mr. Moses Gill a spot 
for a pew next to ye Broad Alley." 



Ecclesiastical History 133 

Dec. 22, 1768. " Voted to build the seats in the Gal- 
leries that are mortised & that the seats taken up on the 
lower floor be used for that purpose." 

June I, 1769. " Voted to let Mr. Robert Keyes have ye 
two half seats in the Body Seats on the Womans side for a 
Pew, upon his relinquishing his Right in his Pew & seats in 
the Meeting House & paying twenty pounds old tenor & 
giving the Bolt for the front Dore." 

July 31, 1769. " Voted to cut up two hind Seats in the 
Body Seats on the mens side for two pews" — Joseph 
Sargent to " have Pew next ye middle alley." 

Mch. 5, 1770. " Voted to paint the Meeting House 
provided Mr. Moses Gill finds the paint." 

(Mr. Gill doubtless sent up from Boston the necessary 
materials and the house was painted.) 

Oct. 22, 1770. " Voted to Plaister ye Meeting House." 

Jan. 21, 1 77 1. " Voted ye Plaistering under ye Gal- 
leries be made Crowning & ye Plaistering white wash'd & 
ye Seats in ye Side Galleries be Finished." 

Mch. 4, 1 77 1. A proposition " to build a pew over 
ye Woman Stairs in ye Corner of ye Meeting House " 
and a similar one over " ye Mens Stairs " did not meet 
with favor, but it was voted to sell the room named, 
the pews to be built before the Meeting House was 
plastered. David Everett was the purchaser at the price 
of £4-7-11. 

Mch. 8, 1772. Dr. Ephraim Woolson bought " pew 
ground," showing that ten years after the house was raised, 
the desirable spaces for location of pews had not all been 
distributed. 

Mch. 1772. The house appears not to have been as 
yet shingled upon the north side and the people w^ere not 
quite ready to appropriate money for that purpose. They 
were, however, willing to pay Caleb Mirick the magnificent 
sum of eight shillings for taking care of the house for one 
year. As the modern luxuries of carpets, cushions and 
stoves had not then been introduced, the duties of the 
sexton may not have been laborious. 



134 History oj Princeton 

By this time the house appears to have been considered 
practically completed if we may judge from the absence of 
any action of the town in respect to changes for some 
eleven years. During this period, however, they were 
passing through the trying scenes of the Revolutionary 
War, when money was scarce and every dollar was needed 
to meet the pressing obligations of those days. It is 
noticeable that just two months after the treaty of peace 
was signed, in 1783, the town had the courage to build 
additional seats in the front gallery of the meeting house, 
no doubt looking forward to days of prosperity. It is 
difficult for many of us today to comprehend how the 
churchgoers of earlier times could be in any degree comfort- 
able during the winter season in houses without fires of 
any kind. And it is probably true that there was but 
little real comfort even when provided with the foot stoves 
which were considered necessary. The hour of inter- 
mission at noon was doubtless gladly welcomed when the 
hearth stones of Caleb Mirick and other neighboring fami- 
lies could be reached, and the needed comfort secured. 

First Stove. The first and only mention of a stove in 
this meeting house is in August, 1786, when the town voted 
" that Mr. Gill have the preveledge to put up the stove 
mentioned in the 3d article, in the most Convenient place 
in the meeting house, and to Stand during his pleasure." 

Choir. What portion of the house, if any, was assigned 
for the use of the choir we do not know — in fact the only 
hint that there were those who led the Congregation in 
their songs of praise, is found in the record of May 28, 1787 
when it was " voted that the Division in the front gallery 
be moved three feet toward the Eastward, and that the 
ground be improved by the singers During the pleasure 
of the Town." To the singers in the second meeting house 
reference will be made hereafter. 

Town Meetings. All the town meetings were held in 
the meeting house after 1764, although sometimes the 
bitter cold led to an adjournment to the tavern near by. 
It is a matter of record that some of these meetings were 



Ecclesiastical History 135 

" adjourned for half an hour to Caleb Mirick's tavern " a 
proceeding that gives suggestions of the mug of flip and 
the toddy which were so generally used in the " good old 
days." 

Horse Sheds. Whether there were erected near the 
meeting house previous to 1770 any horse sheds, does not 
appear, but in that year it was " voted to give liberty to 
Ebenezer Jones, Joseph Sergeant, Sam" Hastings & x'\bner 
How to Build a Stable 28 feet long & 10 Feet wide North 
East of the great Rock, North west of the Meeting House " 
and also to Tilly Littlejohns, Paul Mathews, Elisha Hobbs, 
Sam" Moseman & Abijah Harrington to Build a Stable 
30 Feet Long & 10 Feet wide. North East of the aforesaid 
Spot." This vote was followed by others giving similar 
liberty for stables southwest of the meeting house, and on 
the north side of the common, and elsewhere, while the 
Hon. Moses Gill had the compliment of the gift of " a 
convenient Spot of Ground to build a Stable." In 1796 
in considering some changes in the wall of the burying 
ground, a committee proposed the erection of a row of 
stables on the easterly end of the burying ground wall 
" which would rather ornament than injure or disfigure the 
street " and they were willing the town should direct 
'* how they shall be covered and what color they shall be 
painted.'' These buildings differed from the later and 
commodious meeting house sheds adorning the grounds of 
country churches. They were divided into stalls for one 
horse only. The vehicle, if any, was left without cover, 
and the horse put into the stall and the door closed if 
desired. During the early years of the settlement the 
number of vehicles in town was small and such of the 
people as rode to church did so upon horseback — often 
two together. 

As the number of vehicles increased, the necessity for 
the larger sheds appeared. 

Church Organization. The approaching completion of 
the meeting-house in the Summer of 1764 naturally led to 
the consideration of the organization of a church. A 



136 History of Princeton 

concise account of the preliminary proceedings and some 
of the subsequent transactions with the Covenant, Articles 
of Faith, etc., has been preserved in the handwriting of 
Rev. Joseph Davis of Holden, to whose suggestions and 
assistance the Princeton Church was greatly indebted. 

This record indicates the methods adopted and some 
of the difficulties encountered in this first gathering of 
the church and is of sufficient interest to be given in its 
entirety. 

" Some Minutes of the Proceedings of the Covenanting 
Brethren in Princetown in order to their being incorpor- 
ated into a Chh State; & some Account of their after 
Proceedings — 

" Sometime in the Month of July Anno Domini 1764, 
A number of Persons, Members in full Communion with 
other Chhs, met together and came to an Agreement to be 
embodied into a Chh: Their Proposals were published in 
the Meeting House Lords Day evening & others were 
invited to joyn with them; They proposed a Fast to be 
on Aug. 30. Agreed to meet again Aug. 11, & invited me 
to come among them ; I did so ; offered to them the follow- 
ing Covenant & 16 Persons Males & Females, met (that 
were then Non-Communicants, tho 9 of them had owned 
the Covenant) & desired to be of their Number, were the 
next Sabbath publickly propounded therefor; — Accord- 
ingly the following Covenant was signed on Aug. 12 by all 
the Persons whose Names are now annexed to it (except 
the Two last), they being all Present, & all declaring their 
Approbation of it, & their Christian Charity towards each 
other; & Then agreed to Send to a Council of 3 Chhs. viz. 
That in Rutland, in Holden, & the 2'^ in Lancaster, to meet 
at Princetown on the 30 of Aug. to incorporate them into 
a particular Visible Ch. & publick Notice was given 
hereof. 

The S*^ Chhs. accordingly met, & the Persons that Signed 
the Covenant, who have Figures against their Names were 
incorporated & owned as a particular Visible Chh of Christ 



Ecclesiastical History 137 

& the Right Hand of Fellowship was held forth to them by 
S'^ Council. 

Attest Jos. Davis Scribe to S*^ Council. 

The Covenant entered into August 12, 1764. We whose 
Names are hereunto Subscribed (Inhabitants of Prince- 
town) apprehending our Selves called of God into the 
Church State of the Gospel: 

Do first of all confess ourselves unworthy to be so highly 
favoured of the Lord, and admire his free & rich Grace 
which calls us hereunto: 

And then, with humble relyance, and entire dependance 
on the Assistance of his Grace & holy Spirit therein promised 
for them, that in a sense of their Inability to do any good 
thing, do humbly wait upon him for all, we do thankfully 
lay hold on His Covenant, & Solemnly enter into Covenant 
with God, & with one another according to God. 

We declare our Serious belief of the Christian Religion 
as contained in the Sacred Scriptures (acknowledging them 
to contain the whole revealed Will of God concerning our 
Faith & Practice) heartily resolving to conform our Lives 
unto the Rules of that Religion as long as we live. 

We give up our Selves unto the Lord Jehovah, the 
Father, the Son, & the holy Ghost, the only true and living 
God, and avouch him this Day to be our God & our Por- 
tion forever. 

We give up ourselves to the blessed Jesus, who is the 
Lord Jehovah, and adhere to Him as the Head of his 
people in the Covenant of Grace, and rely upon Him 
as our Prophet, Priest, & King, to bring us to eternal 
Blessedness. 

We acknowledge our everlasting & indispensible Obliga- 
tions to glorify God in all the Duties of a Godly, Sober, & 
Righteous Life; & particularly in the Duties of a Chh 
State and a Body of People associated for an Obedience to 
Him, in all the Ordinances of the Gospel: And we there- 
upon depend on his gracious Assistance for our faithful 
Discharge of the Duties thus Incumbent upon us. 



138 History of Princeton 

We engage (with dependance on his promised Grace & 
Spirit) to walk together as a Church of the Lord Jesus 
Christ, in the Faith & Order of the Gospel, so far as we 
shall have the same revealed unto us: conscientiously 
attending the publick Worship of God in his House (in 
praying to him, Singing his praises, & giving reverent 
attention to his Word Read & Preached according to his 
Institution) the Sacrament of the New-Testament, the 
Discipline of his Kingdom, & all his holy Institutions, in 
Communion one with another, and watchfully avoiding 
all Sinful Stumbling-Blocks & Contentions, as becomes the 
Lords People in Covenant with him. 

At the same Time, we do present our Offspring with our 
Selves unto the Lord: purposing with his Help to do our 
Part in the Methods of a Religious Education, that they 
may be the Lords. 

And all this we do, fleeing to the Blood of the Ever- 
lasting Covenant, for the pardon of our many Errors, and 
praying that the glorious Lord Jesus, who is the Shepherd, 
would prepare & strengthen us for every good work, to do 
his will : working in us that which shall be well pleasing in 
his Sight: To whom be Glory forever & ever, Amen. 



Tilly Littlejohns 


6 


Joseph Rugg^ 


Elisha Wilder 


7 


I Joseph Norcross 


Ebenezer Jones 


8 


2 Timothy Mosman 


Abel Ray 


9 


3 Peter Goodenow 


Samuel Hastings 


10 


Robert Keyes 


Samu" Bixby 


II 


17 Joseph Gibbs 


Abner How 


12 


4 Abijah Moore 


Samuel Mosman 


13 


5 Caleb Mirick ^ 


Joseph Haynes 


14 


James Mirick 


Timothy Keyes 


18 




Noah Norcross 


15 




Stephen Brigham 


16 





Note. The above are autographs, — those on following page are not. 

^ The name of Joseph Rugg is erased in the original (see subsequent action 
of Church. — F. E. B.). 



Ecclesiastical History 139 

1 765 Females 

19 Joseph Seargeant 

20 Adonijah How 

1 Sarah Norcross 

2 Ruth Norcross 

3 Eunice Moore 

4 Eunice Myrick 

5 Hannah Littlejohns 

6 Mehetabel Wilder 

7 Elizabeth Gleason 

8 Anne Hastings 

9 Betty Brigham 

10 Dorothy Myrick 

1 1 Mary Bartlett 

12 Hannah Gibbs 

13 Hannah Bixby 

14 Anne Goodeno 

15 Sarah How 

1765 

16 Elizabeth Sargeant 

17 Patience Keys 

18 Lucy Matthews 

19 Lucy How 

Joseph Rugg Desired his Name might be struck out. 

Robert Keys Brought no Letter of Dismission. 

James Myrick also, & so they were not Numbered with 
the Brethren. 

Joseph Gibbs and 

Timothy Keys, were objected against by D"" Harvey. 

" Because they signed & delivered a Petition to Great & 
general Court containing sundry reflections upon himself." 

With respect to which, the Council agreed, " For as much 
as the Council have no Time to hear & consider of s^ charge 
we think it best that these Brethren be desired to withdraw 
their Names for the Present, & that their Names be omitted 
when the Covenant is Read. 



140 History of Princeton 

" It was so done accordingly, & this Reason was pub- 
lickly given in the Meetinghouse; Because that there was 
not Time to hear & consider of s"^ charge; 

N. B. The Rev'^ Mr. Mellen Preached A. M. from Hebrews 8, 6 

The Rev** Mr. Buckminster in P. M. from 2 Corinth. 16, 19 

1 Joseph Norcross belonged to the church in Weston. 

2 Timothy Mosman " " " " Westminster. 

3 Peter Coodenow 

4 Abijah Moore " " " " Sudbury, west. 

5 Caleb Myrick " " " " Holden 

6 Tilly Littlejohns 

7 Elisha Wilder " " " 2d Chh in Lancaster. 

8 Noah Norcross " " "in Weston. 

These were dismissed & Recommended by these Several Churches. 

9 Ebenezer Jones, He had owned the Covenant at Concord. 

10 Abel Ray, " " " " " Marlbro'. 

11 Samuel Hastings, " " " " "Shrembury.^ 

12 Samuel Bixby 

13 Abner How, " " " " " Marlboro'. 

14 Samuel Mosman 

15 Joseph Haynes " " " " " Sudbury. 



16 Stephen Brigham. 



Probably Shrewsbury. 



These were all Publlckly Propounded several Weeks 
before & no objections offered against them. Except 
Sam' Bixby which was considered and Removed. 

It was proposed to the Chh by the Moderator of the 
Council, Whether they would choose a Neighbouring 
Pastor for their Moderator. 

Voted Unanimously. 

Whether they would choose the Rev*^ Mr. Davis of 
Holden. 

Voted Unanimously. 

Next Day I went to D' Harvey signified to him, That I 
expected he would exhibit his Charge against Joseph Gibbs 
& Timothy Keys, to me in writing. If he expected to have 
It taken Notice of by the Chh: But first proposed, to him 
a Conference with those Brethren to see if they could not 



Ecclesiastical History 141 

make up the matter. To which I thought he very readily 
consented. 

Princetown, October 7. Lords Day. The following 
Persons were admitted into the Chh, I being there & 
Preaching A. M. from John 18, 36; P. M. from Jeremi 

50. 4» 5- 

1 Sarah The Wife of Joseph Norcross. 

2 Ruth The Wife of Noah Norcross. They belonged to the Chh in Weston. 

3 Eunice Wife of Capt. Moore. She to Sudbury West. 

4 Eunice Wife of Caleb Myrick. Holden. 

5 Hannah Wife of Tilly Littlejohns. ( They to 2d in 

6 Mehetabel Wife of Elisha Wilder ^ Lancaster 

These were all dismissed & recommended, by these 
several Chhs as Persons in Regular Standing & were all 
admitted into the Chh. 

7 Elizabeth Gleason. Widow. 

8 Anne Wife of Samuel Hastings. 

9 Bettee Wife of Stephen Brigham. 

10 Dorothy Wife of James Myrick. 

1 1 Mary Wife of Johfi Bartlit. 

Were all admitted also; They were propounded diverse 
Weeks before. 

John Bartlit. 
Paul Matthews with 

Lucy his wife owned the Covenant; They were Pro- 
pounded some Time before. 

The following Children were Baptized the same Day. 

1 Lucretia Daughter of Robert Keys. 

2 (John 



■2 (Bettee 1 

)c- , J ( children of Stephen & Bette Brigham. 

4 (Stephen and ' 



5 (Abner, 

6 Samuel Son of John & Mary Bartlett. 

7 Jonas Son of Timothy Keys. 

8 (Paul&) 

9 (Joel ) sons of Paul & Lucy Matthews. 
ID William Son of William & Joanna Gibbs. 

George Bernard & 

Sarah his Wife were propounded to own the Covenant. 



142 History of Princeton 

Princetown, October 8. 

Went with Joseph Gibbs & Timothy Keys, & desired 
Cap. Moore & Mr. Goodeno to go with us, to D'' Harveys, 
& had a long Conference with him, but to no purpose, only 
the D' said, he would send his Reasons in writing to me 
shortly which (tho' not within the Time prefixed) he 
did. signed by him, and bearing Date Octob. 17, 1764, & 
there were objections also against Caleb Myrick & Peter 
Goodeno. 

I thereupon appointed a meeting of the Church to be on 
Octob. 24, 1764, & notified Dr. Harvey of it. 

The Chh accordingly met, & the Rev'd. Mr. Buckminster 
was desired to moderate in s"^ meeting, & did so. 

D'^ Harvey did not appear, tho' sent to and desired by 
the Chh. But proposed a Mutual Council, & offered 
nothing to support his objections; 

The Church Unanimously agreed not then to joyn in a 
Mutual Council, & looked upon the objections as of no 
importance. But that the Mens characters were clear & 
good & accordingly admitted. ' 

Joseph Gibbs and 

Timothy Keys into their Communion, & proposed to 
take no further Notice of the Objections against Caleb 
Myrick & Peter Goodeno, & so the meeting was dissolved, 
after that the Chh had agreed to have the Sacrament 
administered to them. 

Princetown, Nov. 11, 1764. 

Hannah Wife of Joseph Gibbs. 

Anne Wife of Peter Goodeno'. 

Sarah Wife of Abner How. ^ 

Were all admitted into the Church. They were pro- 
pounded many Weeks before — I administered the 
Sacrament of the Lords Supper the same Day to 27 
Communicants. 

George Bernard & 

Sarah his Wife owned the Covenant. 



Ecclesiastical History 143 

Baptized. 

Anne Daughter of Peter & Anne Goodeno'. 

Ephraim Son of James & Dorothy Myrick. 

Attest J. Davis Mod' of s^ Chh. 
Mays, 1765. 

Hannah Wife of Sam' Bixby admitted into the Church. 

The following Children were baptized by me. 

1 Levi Son of Charles & Hannah Parmeter. 

2 Louisa Da'fter of Elisha & Mehetabel Wilder. 

3 Marah Da'fter of Tilly & Hannah Littlejohns. 

4 Hannah Da'fter of Saml. & Hannah Bixby. 

5 Anne Dau'fter of Abner & Sarah How. 

6 LutJier Son of Elisha & Sarah Gale. 

^ . > Twin sons of Oliver & Olive Dresser. 

8 Aaron ) 

9 Sarah Daughter of George & Sarah Bernard. 

Sep. 30, 1765. 

Administered the Sacrament: & it was administered 
some Months before by Rev"^ Mr. Mellen. 

Joseph Seargent & 

Elizabeth his Wife admitted into the Church, they be- 
longed to the Chh in Bolton. Their Letter of Dismission 
Read & Accepted. 

Baptized 

William Son of William & Anne Thomson. 

Prudence Wife of Timothy Keys propounded to joyn to 
the Chh. 

Nov. 24, 1765. 

Patience Wife of Timothy Keys admitted into the Chh. 
I Baptized, 

1 Mary Daughter of Ensign Davis & Mary his Wife. 

2 Joseph Sone of Benjamin Fainter. 

3 Sybil Daughter of Samuel & Hannah Bixby. 

4 Elizabeth Daughter of Samuel & Elizabeth Biglo. 

Lucy the Wife of Paul Matthews Propounded to Joyn in 
Church Fellowship. 

Stop'd the Brethren of the Church, & after much Debate, 
unanimously agreed to have a Meeting. To see whether 



144 History of Princeton 

it was Expedient & the Desire of the Chh. immediately 
to make choice of one of the Gent, that had Preached with 
them, to settle among them in the Work of the Gospel 
Ministry; & if so To agree upon the Person; The Day to 
be Monday, December the 2d Day. 

Princetown, Decemb. 2, 1765. 

The Church met according to Appointment, 16 Brethren 
present. After much debate, upon the First Article, & 
finding that the Congregation tho't the Church were to 
hasty, & that it was suitable there should be a Town 
Meeting first, to see whether they would agree to have 
constant Preaching, & that a Minister be settled as soon 
as may be, the Chh, without passing any other Vote, 
agreed to adjourn for six Weeks, Then to meet, at the 
Meeting-House, Viz on Monday, the 13th of January next, 
at one 'Clock P. M. and to act on the foregoing Articls. 

Jan. 13, 1766. Chh met & adjourned to Monday June 
2T,; then met again »& Adjourned to August 4th i-Clock 
P. M. at the Meeting House. 

Aug. 4, 1766. Church met according to Adjournment; 
Publick Notice being given of it. Rev"^ Mr. Davis desired 
to Moderate in s"^ Meeting: Meeting opened with Prayer: 
Then the following Votes were passed, 
Viz. 

1. That we will now proceed to choose one of the Three 
Gent, that have lately Preached in this Place to settle in 
the Work of the Gospel Ministry. 

2. The Brethren were desired to bring in their Votes 
for a Pastor in writing. Upon counting & sorting the 
Votes it appears that Mr. Sewall Goodridge had 11 Votes 
& Mr. James Baker 4, Mr. Goodridge was accordly de- 
clared to be chosen. 

3. Messieur Peter Goodeno, Ebenezer Jones & Joseph 
Gibbs be a Committee to wait upon Mr. Goodridge & carry 
him a Copy of these Votes. 

4. That the above named Committee wait upon the 



Ecclesiastical History 145 

Select Men & desire them to call a Town meeting as soon 
as may be to see whether they will concur with the Chh 
Choice. 

Test J. Davis, Mod. 

Lucy Matthews Wife of Paul Matthews admitted into 
the Chh. 

Adonijah How & 
Lucy his Wife also, 

Lucy Da'fter of Adonijah How & Lucy his Wife. 
Baptized Nov. 19, 1766. 

Candidates for Preaching. From the above record it 
appears that preaching services were held with some 
regularity and several candidates for the ministry were 
before the people, but no definite action could well be taken 
by the church until the district showed a willingness to 
make the necessary appropriation for the support of a 
minister. An article in the warrant for a district meeting 
December 31, 1765, indicates the desire of some of the 
people for decisive action. 

" To see if the District will vote how soon they will settle 
a minister, and also whether they will hear any one or 
more of the Candidates for the ministry which they have 
alreddy heard in order for settling, or any other or others 
which they have not heard, or act anything Relating to 
that affair." Upon this article it was voted " to hear Mr. 
Baker, M^ Fuller & M' Moore each of them six Sabbaths 
on probation in order for settleing & said preaching is to 
begin on the first Sabbath in April next & M"^ Robertt 
Cowden was chosen to procure said preachers." 

Whether each of these gentlemen availed himself of this 
privilege during the following Winter and Spring does not 
appear, but no call to settle was extended to either. In 
the Summer of that year, however, an invitation to the 
pastorate was extended by the church with the concurrence 
of the district to Mr. Sewall Goodrich, which was declined 
notwithstanding some flattering inducements in the matter 
of salary were proffered him. 



146 History of Princeton 

Rev. Timothy Fuller. Attention was then directed to 
Mr. Timothy Fuller whose voice had been heard the 
previous Spring, and in March, 1767 a call was given him to 
settle with them as their minister, in which call the district 
unanimously concurred. 

The salary tendered I\lr. Fuller, practically the same as 
that previously offered Mr. Goodrich, is thus defined upon 
the records. 

" \'oted to give Mr. Tim° Fuller a Settlement and salliry 
as follows (viz) i^^ his settlement of £133:6:8 to be paid as 
follows (viz) £66:13:4 within eight months after his 
ordination & also £66:13:4 within one year & eight months 
after said ordination. 

2. His salliry £53:6:8 to be paid yearly so long as he 
shall Continue to be their Minister & fulfill y^ work of the 
Ministry in this District & likewise an addition of £6:13:4 
to begin at y^ end of five years after his ordination & to be 
paid yearly as aforesaid & also an other addition of £6:13:4 
at y'' end of ten years after said ordination & to be paid 
yearly so long as he shall Continue to be their Minister & 
fulfill the work of the Ministry as afore said." 

Mr. Fuller's reply to this invitation, under date of May 
1 6th, signified his acceptance of the proposals and his 
interest in the church and town, adding, " I am far from 
desiring that my people should find the gospel burdensome, 
therefore, though 3^our offers are not great, yet considering 
the infant state of your society, your great unanimity and 
kind dispositions, I look upon it as a call from God and am 
encouraged to accept in dependence on your generosity 
as your ability increases to contribute of the means with 
which God in his providence shall bless you to my necessi- 
ties, to my comfortable and honorable support. As far 
as I know my own heart, I undertake with a single aim at 
the glory of God in connexion with your best interest. 
I think I must be far removed from the least suspicion of 
having any lucrative views in the case but assuredly my 
highest views are to advance the kingdom of Christ which 
is not of this world. I would take this opportunity to 



Ecclesiastical History 147 

express my gratitude for the good opinion you have mani- 
fested of me, hoping I shall always walk worthy of your 
esteem and friendship." 

Ordination. Mr. Fuller was ordained on the 9th of 
September following. The customary ecclesiastical council 
called by the church was large and influential, nine churches 
being represented by delegates. This first ordination of 
a preacher of the Gospel and settlement of a minister in 
the district must have been a notable occasion. It was 
eight years since the incorporation of the district — and 
some of the families had been on the ground for a longer 
time than that — and thus far without stated religious 
services and the accustomed privileges of the public wor- 
ship of God. It can be readily imagined, therefore, that 
this 9th of September was hailed with joy by the majority 
of the inhabitants. 

The meeting-house was still in a rude and unattractive 
condition, but that was capable of improvement and need 
not, as doubtless it did not, lessen the enthusiasm of any 
of those who had been long waiting for the coming of one 
to "go in and out before them." 

New Covenant. Soon after Mr. Fuller's ordination the 
church adopted a new form of Covenant differing in some 
respects but substantially the same as subscribed to by the 
original members in 1764. At this time Timothy Keyes 
and Adonijah Howe were chosen as the first deacons of the 
church and arrangements were made for the orderly con- 
duct of the church in its work. Among its votes was one 
" that the Sacrament be administered once in two months; 
but may be omitted at particular times as the pastor may 
judge expedient." 

Gifts. The church was indebted to Hon. Moses Gill 
for the gift in April, 1768 of a flagon, tankard, cup and dish 
for the communion service and also a baptismal basin. 
These articles are still preserv^ed and are now in the Town 
Library Building. In 1772 three additional tankards, a 
dish and a cloth — were purchased, a portion of which are 
still in use by the Congregational Church in the town. 



148 History of Princeton 

Bible. A Bible was also presented by Mr. Gill in 1769. 
His letter to Mr. Fuller upon this subject is interesting. 

" Boston, December 9, 1769. 

Rev. and Dear Sir, — You may remember sometime 
in the summer past, you mentioned to me your desire that 
I would present you with a large Bible, that the Scriptures 
might be publicly read every Lord's day. I believe my 
answer was : I was afraid it would have a tendency to make 
you shorten your other services; however, upon my return 
home in the summer I spoke to a stationer for a large folio 
Bible, which is now come: but I have one difficulty in my 
mind against sending it up; that is, I have observed in 
some country places they are not fond in general of having 
the Scriptures read in public, because their time is taken 
up in that part of service that may as well be performed 
at home; though I don't know that this is the case with 
you, as I never changed a word with any of your people 
about this matter. Now, sir, if I should send it up, — 
you should introduce it, — your people generally dis- 
satisfied, — it would perhaps make such a breach between 
you and them, as may never be fully healed; and if I should 
be the means of it, I could never forgive myself, nor make 
amends to you; though I am clear of an opinion that the 
Scriptures ought to be publicly read every Lord's day, as 
one part of the religious exercises. These are the difficul- 
ties that lay in my mind; how far they have any weight 
in them, you can judge. 

" The Bible is ready, and will be sent up whenever you 
shall say ; in the meantime you will make use of your known 
prudence and good judgement in introducing it. There 
is bound up with it the Church Services, the Apocrypha, 
and Sternhold and Hopkin's Psalms, all which I think 
superfluous, and may be taken out by rebinding, if you 
think proper." 

Political Differences. Mr. Fuller was a graduate of 
Harvard College in 1760, a man of good ability, of intel- 
lectual worth and of sterling integrity. His public services 



Ecclesiastical History 149 

both in the church and the town and his private ministra- 
tions were generally acceptable and appreciated by the 
people until about the year 1775, when there began to be 
signs of disaffection. 

The true and probably the only real cause of this was 
a suspicion that Mr. Fuller did not fully sympathize with 
the majority in the then engrossing subject relating to 
the establishment and maintenance of the rights of the 
people. The whole country was stirred as never before 
and the events of the Lexington Alarm and the Battle of 
Bunker Hill served to bring out all the patriotism and 
fervor of the people — and every indication of lack of 
sympathy for the colony was sufficient to create suspicion 
and arouse distrust. In response to a request of the parish 
he had preached a sermon to the minute men, taking for 
his text, " Let not him that girdeth on the harness boast 
himself as he that putteth it off." 

There was a flavor about the sermon that was not 
acceptable to an excited people ready for active, revolution- 
ary measures, although Mr. Fuller probably intended 
simply to advise caution. The General Court of the 
Province recommended a day of fasting and prayer (the 
Governor declining to appoint such a day) and naturally 
the people of Princeton desired Mr. Fuller to arrange for 
its observance. This Mr. Fuller unfortunately declined 
to do and immediately the charge was made against him of 
being a Tory, or at least of not being in harmony with 
his fellow townsmen in the struggle then upon the country. 
However well Mr. Fuller was able to reply to these 
charges and to show his fidelity to the people and his 
sympathy with their active measures for relief, they were 
not ready to listen with minds unbiassed, for as usual in 
such cases, the people suddenly began to find various other 
and serious causes of dissatisfaction with him. The more 
the matter was talked over by the fireside, in the meeting- 
house and throughout the town, the greater appeared his 
delinquencies until it came to be the determination of many 
to sever the connection between pastor and people. 



150 History of Princeton 

The suggestions from the Provincial Congress urging the 
importance of keeping a watchful eye upon all those in- 
habitants subject to suspicion offered an opportunity to 
investigate Mr. Fuller's position, which was embraced at 
a town meeting on the 24th of May, 1775, when the follow- 
ing action is recorded. 

"Voted on reading the paper received from the Congress that the com- 
mittee of correspondence retire to receive the complaint of any person 
against any one suspected to be unfriendly to their country and that they 
make their report of such persons complained of to the town for their 
further consideration. The committee upon their return reported that 
the Rev. Mr. Fuller and Lieut. Caleb Mirick are complained of as persons 
suspected to be unfriendly to their country; Mr. Fuller for refusing to call 
a Fast last year, and for his public discourse to the minute company the 
last Fast as tending to discourage people in defending their rights and 
liberties, and Mr. Caleb Mirick for taking cattle suspected to be Col. 
Jones' property and for entertaining tories at sundry times; which com- 
plaint being read the town then voted that Mr. Fuller and Lieut. Caleb 
Mirick be inquired of for their conduct touching said complaint." 

Mr. Fuller's Reply to the serious charge does not appear 
upon record but the original is said to have been carefully 
preserved by his descendants and is here presented. 

To the Committee of Correspondence, Mr. Thomson, 
Chairman, to be laid before the Town, — 
Gentlemen, — 

I am very much surprised to find that any among you 
should suspect me of entertaining Principles inconsistent 
with ye cause of liberty, since I have uniformly espoused 
and supported it, both in public and private from ye very 
beginning of our controversy with Great Britain. I have 
always submitted to ye advice of Congresses both pro- 
vincial and continental; subscribed with my Hand ye Non 
Importation and Non Consumption agreement; strictly 
adhered to it; have never opposed any public Measure 
taken to preserve ye Rights and Privileges of ye People; 
and though I have thought that ye people have run into 
some Irregularities; yet not more than might be expected 
from every opposition to unconstitutional and oppressive 
acts of Government. It has always been my firm Opinion 



Ecclesiastical History 151 

that ye Parliament of Great Britain in exercising ye Right 
claimed of binding America in all cases whatsoever would 
reduce us to absolute Slavery. I have, years ago, laid 
aside ye use of Tea, and urged you to do ye same, that we 
might defeat their Design of raising a Revenue from us, 
encouraged our manufactures and pressed a Union in this, 
and all ye Colonies, that our Resistance might be formidable 
and successful. 

I think we have a Reason and a Right to Complain 
and when our Complaints are not heard, and our Griev- 
ances redressed, we have a Right to resist. We of Right 
ought to be as free as ye People of England, according to 
Charter. 

I am sorry to be so unhappy as to fall under the suspicion 
of being unfriendly to ye Common Cause. I believe I am 
as hearty a Lover of my Country as any among you, or any 
in ye Country. I am ready when Necessary, to fight in ye 
Defense of it, and of Religion. I think ministers are not 
called to War, unless ye rest of ye Community are unable 
to defend it without them, and in such a case I am ready 
to do my part; I would not count my Life dear to me, but 
would brave every Danger of War." 

In conclusion: " What your design is in calling me in 
Question I may not determine. If any were so mistaken 
and ignorant of my Principles as to be really jealous, I am 
sorry; but I am willing to give account of myself, without 
being offended, and am persuaded that what I have offered 
above will give you entire satisfaction as to my firm attach- 
ment to ye Principles of civil liberty, and to remove every 
doubt from your minds; if not, I am willing to carry ye 
matter before the provisional or continental Congress. 

Princetown, May 29, 1775. Timothy Fuller." 

" To the Committee, William Thomson, Chairman, to 
be laid before the Town ; — 
Gentlemen, — 

I beg Leave now to make some Additions with respect 
to several things in the Paper which I read to ye Town on 



152 History of Princeton 

Friday last. I do not believe ye Parliament of Great 
Britain hath any right to make any Laws whatever binding 
on ye Colonies, nor to lay any Taxes or duties on us without 
our Consent. I am clearly of opinion that ye acts, called 
ye Boston Port Bill, that for Altering the Government of 
this Province and that for sending Criminals to Great 
Britain for Tryal, and ye Quebec bill, are unreasonable and 
unjust, and that ye Parliament have no right to enact, and 
that ye Colonies are so far from being obliged to submit to 
them, that it would be criminal in them, and they would be 
ruined by such submission. It is our Duty, at present, to 
unitedly exert ourselves to ye utmost, with Dependence on 
the blessing of Heaven on our righteous Cause, to resist by 
Force and Arms, the Execution of those i\cts. I look upon 
it (as) a favorable Providence, that the Colonies of this 
Continent, and this in particular, are generally so happily 
agreed in asserting and defending our civil and religious 
Rights against ye Invasions of the British Ministry and 
Parliament and their venal Army. It is, I think, ye duty 
of every man to encourage and according to his Ability, to 
promote ye Success of the Army, now raised by this Colony, 
for its necessary Safety and Defense." 

Notwithstanding this positive statement of his views, 
his assertion of loyalty to the cause of liberty, and his 
expressed willingness to give himself if necessary to fight 
for its maintenance, the people in their excitement could 
see nothing satisfactory in it and voted to hear him " a 
fortnight longer in order to inquire further into his late 
conduct." Mr. Fuller still appeared " willing to give 
account of himself without being offended " and his 
letters certainly have the appearance of candor and sin- 
cerity. 

In a private letter of a later date Mr. Fuller wrote '* You 
& I are steady & immovable in ye warmest attachment 
to y^ Interest of the Country, however, we may be tho't 
at sometimes to mistake y^ means best adapted to pro- 
mote it." 



Ecclesiastical History 153 

In fact, throughout the whole period of this unhappy 
affair the communications of Mr. Fuller evince a kindly, 
christian spirit even though the action of the town and of 
individuals must have been very embarrassing and trying, 
if no harsher term is employed. A second response from 
him may add something to the views expressed in the first. 

Action by the Town. But the town flatly rejected this 
paper and appointed a committee " to draw up a paper " 
for Mr. Fuller to sign. The committee consisted of 
Messrs. Sadey Mason, Boaz Moore, Adonijah Howe, 
Charles Brooks and Joseph Eveleth. The character and 
well-known opinions of these gentlemen warranted the town 
in expecting an " iron clad " declaration which no one but 
a " patriot " would care to sign. And yet, when the paper 
was offered in town meeting on the 20th of June it was 
" voted that Mr. Fuller sign the paper before the town act 
upon it; accordingly agreeable to said vote, the paper was 
signed by Mr. Fuller in presence of the town; it was then 
put to see if the town were satisfied with said paper for his 
past conduct so far as it appeared unfriendly to the common 
cause, and it was voted not satisfactory.'" What would have 
been satisfactory and dispelled the suspicions resting upon 
him it is difficult to imagine. One may see what trifles 
were seized upon and what slim arguments were used against 
him by the following related by Mr. Fuller's grandson. 
" A man got up in town meeting here, in 1775, and said; 
' I know Mr. Fuller is not pious, and is a Tory, for I caught 
hold of him suddenly, the other evening, and in his surprise, 
he said ; ' Let alone of me, by George ! ' Now as he said 
' by,' he could not be pious; and he must have meant 
George the Third, and of course, then, if he would swear 
by him, he must be a Tory." 

Meeting after meeting was called both by church and 
by town in endeavors to adjust the difficulty, or perhaps 
more correctly to bring matters to a focus. 

But suspicions very readily gave place to belief and the 
town passed a vote, August 16, requesting Mr. Fuller to 
ask a dismission. The committee of correspondence of 



154 History of Princeton 

the town reiterated the charges against him bringing out 
another denial. In October aid was soHcited from neigh- 
boring towns through their committees of correspondence 
" to advise respecting Mr. Fuller's conduct as a tory." 
Finally the town decided to call in conjunction with the 
church an ecclesiastical council for consideration of the 
whole matter. This council consisting of delegates from 
three churches, Worcester, Westminster and Shrewsbury, 
convened at Caleb Mirick's house, March ii, 1776. 
Unable to agree with Mr. Fuller upon the subject of a 
mutual council, an adjournment was held to the i6th of 
April, But the same difficulties then presented them- 
selves, and notwithstanding several attempts to make 
arrangements for a council agreeable to Mr. Fuller's views, 
the whole project was abandoned and the council (enlarged 
by delegates from churches in Dedham and Weston) 
proceeded to consider his relation to the church. The 
result was a recommendation for the dismissal of Mr. 
Fuller from the pastorate, which was done by vote of 
the church on the 20th of April and of the town on the 
24th. 

A committee of seven able-bodied men representing the 
" bone and sinew " of the town was appointed " to keep 
Mr. Fuller out of the pulpit," which they succeeded in 
doing without difficulty or any lowering of dignity on their 
part or on his. In a pamphlet, published by Mr. Fuller 
several years after his dismission,^ he replies with vigor to 
the charges made against him and fully explains his posi- 
tion in regard to the council. He asserts in respect to the 
charge of toryism " my principles did not forbid my ofTer- 

^ This is a pamphlet of twenty-three pages entitled "Remarks on that 
part of the Strictures on the Rev. Mr. Thacher's pamphlet which relates 
to the Controversy between Mr. Fuller and the people of Princeton with a 
concise narrative of said Controversy. By Timothy Fuller A. M., Pastor 
of the Church in Princeton. 'Doth our law judge any man before it hear 
him?'" &c. &c. It appears that Rev. Peter Thacher, D.D., published a 
pamphlet upon "The Present State of the Clergy of New England," to which 
"J. S." replied, referring to Mr. Fuller's case. Mr. Fuller's pamphlet is in 
review of the latter. We have been unable to find a copy of the "Strictures 
of one J. S." 



Ecclesiastical History 155 

ing the petitions of the people for relief; but I readily 
joined with my people, on all days set apart by any court 
or Congress, for public devotion, and led them in their 
addresses to heaven for aid and deliverance." 

He " made it a rule to catechise their children twice a 
year " and " never neglected to visit persons in sickness." 
As to levity in church matters, he explains by supposing 
" the moderator laid down his head on the seat before him, 
shivering with the cold, which the people might fondly 
construe into a shake of laughter." But the larger portion 
of the pamphlet is devoted to the question of the methods 
pursued by the Council and its unjustifiable action. 

The day before his dismissal by the town he sent a long 
communication to the selectmen (see files) asserting that he 
had been condemned unheard — that the conduct of the 
Council was illegal " such as never before heard of in ye 
Land of Light & Liberty," &c., &c., signing the letter " I am 
your much abused & aggrieved tho' faithful Pastor." In 
accordance with his views of the illegality of the council, 
he subsequently made demands for salary which he alleged 
was due to him. 

Princeton, Oct*" 8, 1778. 
To the Select Men to be laid before y^ Town. 

Brethren. My Inviolable Affection for you & Attach- 
ment to your Interest & Happiness which no Injuries & 
Outrages can abate, constrain me now to assure you that 
altho' I am at present removed from among you yet I have 
been, still am, & shall be ready to return, & to serve you 
in the gospel Ministry whenever you shall signify to me 
that I may proceed therein & that you will attend my 
ministrations. 

I remain your real Friend & faithful Pastor 

Timothy Fuller. 

Princeton, Oct"" 8, 1778. 
Fearing y^ Treasurer might be Negligent of his Duty, I 
address you upon y^ same subject upon which I have wrote 



156 History oj Princeton 

to him, & hereby Demand of you thirty Pounds lawful 
Money which is due to me from ye Town as Salary for my 
ninth years serving them in ye Ministry, also ye Sum of 
one hundred & twenty-five Pounds, six shillings & eight 
Pence due for my tenth & Eleventh years Sallary & also 
as much more as shall be sufficient to make y*" s"^ sums of 
Money as good to me as when I first settled here in y^ 
Ministry, a speedy Compliance may save ye Town from 
many disagreeable Consequences which may attend a 
Neglect. 

Am with Respect yours, 
Timothy Fuller Pastor, 
of ye Chh of Princeton. 
To y^ Select Men of Princeton. 

Two communications found among the town files indi- 
cate his persistency and shrewdness. 

Suit against the Town. Soon after his dismissal Mr. 
Fuller removed to Martha's Vineyard and preached at 
Chilmark. He returned to Princeton for a short time but 
removed to Middleton in 1782 when he commenced a suit 
against the town for recovery of his salary, basing his 
claim upon the grounds above stated. 

A committee consisting of Moses Gill, Caleb Mirick, 
Joseph Sargent, Adonijah How and Samuel Woods was 
appointed by the town to arrange for the defense, and 
eminent counsel were engaged. The case was finally tried 
at Salem before the Supreme Judicial Court and after four 
days spent in arguing the case " in which the patience of the 
Court and Jury were remarkable,'' a verdict was rendered 
in favor of the town. The cost of the defense was very 
large but the town settled the bills with quiet satisfaction. 
The report of the above-named committee is spread in full 
upon the records " to the end that posterity may know the 
rights of Chhs and the grounds upon which the separation 
between the Town and the said Mr. Fuller took place, and 
that it may stand as a Lasting Monument to shew the 
Trouble and Expence this Town has Sustain"^ in order to 



Ecclesiastical History 157 

assert and Maintain those rights and preveledges the God 
of Nature has Instrusted them with." 

Thus ended this unfortunate controversy. Not long 
after this Mr. Fuller returned to Princeton, occupied his 
farm on the west side of the Mountain, and rendered good 
service to the town as a teacher and in various other 
official positions as well as in the more personal duties of 
a neighbor and citizen. 

l^he ill feeling once so bitter against him appears to have 
given way to respect and warm attachment, and in 1788 he 
was chosen to represent the town in the Constitutional 
Convention, Hon. Moses Gill being the opposing candidate. 
Mr. Fuller cast his vote against the adoption of this Con- 
stitution on the ground of its recognition of slavery. 

In 1786 he removed to Merrimac, N. H., w^here he died 

July , 1805. Rev, Humphrey Moore, a native of 

Princeton, preached the funeral sermon. 

Supplies. For ten years after the dismission of Mr. 
Fuller, the church was without a pastor but public worship 
was maintained during a greater part of the time, the 
pulpit being supplied by neighboring ministers or as could 
conveniently be arranged. Thanksgiving and Fast days 
appear also to have been appropriately observed and 
preachers secured that the people might not miss the 
accustomed services. 

Supplies for the pulpit were not so readily obtained then 
as now and much exertion and often much travel were 
necessary to accomplish any satisfactory results. And this 
difficulty often led to the employment of a preacher for 
several' consecutive Sundays. Rev. Paul Litchfield 
preached many weeks; at a later date Rev. George Hub- 
bard preached thirty-three Sundays within ten months, 
and in 1784 Rev. Moses Haven twenty-four consecutive 
Sundays. 

The expenses incurred in seeking supplies for the pulpit 
were not inconsiderable and this was one strong reason for 
securing a stated supply for long periods. The following 
items, copied from original papers, indicate labors and 



158 History of Princeton 

troubles of which the church committees of the present 
day know Httle. 

"Princeton May 1778. £ S. d. 
to a Jorny Downe to Situate 

to engage M' Litchfield 5 4 o 

to Boarding M' Litchfield one fortnight. ... 3 o o 

to keeping Mr. Litchfield horse 5 weeks i 5 o 



990 
Paul Matthiez^ 

"The Town of Princeton to Ephr™ Woolson D' to travil to Boston & Expenses 
to Procure a Preacher three Dayes Myself & Horse. 

Expenses 18 o o 

three Dayes Service at 45 Dollers p Day .... 13 15 o 
My Horse 50 miles 61 p Mile 15 00 o 



46 15 o 

Ephr"^ Woolson.i 

In 1784 Joseph Eveleth charged the town for a journey 
to New Haven Six days " for self and horse in search of a 
preacher," £2, 17, and Joseph Sargent received six shillings 
for travel " to Westown to pay Mr. Kendall part of the 
money due to Mr. Haven for preaching." Apparently an 
expensive method of settling accounts. 

"March 1785, Princeton. 

Debt for my going to ingage Mr. Write to 

preach one day Six shillings O: 6:0:0 

June, 1785 for going to Paxton two days to in- 
gage Mr. Willings to preach, twelve shil- 
lings 0:12:0:0 

August, 1785, for going to dunstabel two days to 
ingage Mr. Willings to preach, twelve shil- 
lings 0:12:0:0 

Abijah Harrington." 

Ineffectual Efforts. In January, 1778, the church in 
concurrence with the town extended a call to Rev. Daniel 

* This little trip doubtless afforded D' Woolson an opportunity to visit 
his relatives in Weston. 



Ecclesiastical History 159 

Adams of Medway which was declined, and in October 
following a similar invitation was given Rev. Paul Litch- 
field of Scituate. The town offered him £600 as " a 
settlement " and a yearly salary of seventy pounds pay- 
able: — " twenty-three pounds, six shillings, eight pence at 
the Rate of Indian Corn at three shillings per bushel, 
£23, 6s, 8d, at the Rate of Beef at twenty shillings per 
hundred; and £23, 6s, 8d, in cash of the present currency." 
At this and other times during the Revolutionary war, it 
was somewhat difficult to keep pace with the fluctuations 
of the currency of the day and hence the necessity of making 
the terms of all contracts upon the basis of something 
substantial. 

Mr. Litchfield declined this invitation and although it was 
renewed in May, 1779, with an increase of the proposed 
" settlement " to £1200, it was of no avail. 

In January, 1781, Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard was invited 
to settle in the town. By this time the values had so 
changed that he was offered as a " settlement " £200 
lawful money payable " at the rate of Indian Corn at 3s, 
Rye at four shillings a bushel, beef at 20 shillings per 
hundred, and pork at three and a half pence per pound." 
This with a salary of £73-6-8 payable at the same rates as 
above and thirty cords of wood annually. Notwithstand- 
ing the inducements offered Mr. Hubbard declined the call, 
but he often preached for the church. 

The town files disclose the fact that the preachers did 
not always obtain the money due them as quickly as desired. 
One proof of this is an occasional note politely asking for 
payment of long standing bills and intimating that any 
further delay in settling would occasion expense to the 
town. This dilatoriness was not due to any neglect on 
the part of the efficient treasurer, Enoch Brooks, Esq., but 
simply to the difficulty this town in common with others 
had experienced in raising money during the trying period 
of the war. A letter of Mr. Hubbard's will serve as a 
sample. 



i6o History of Princeton 

" Marblehead, Oct. 13, 1783. 

Sir: 

The design of this Letter, is to Give you my account, 
against the town of Princeton, for preaching amongst them. 
I have received the money you sent, on the account I 
formerly exhibited, & it falls short by four pence. 

The account I hereby exhibit, is for seven days preaching, 
which, at Thirty-three shillings a day (a sum much less 
than I have received in any other place since I left you) 
amounts to Eleven pounds & Eleven shillings; add to this 
sum the four pence above mentioned, the whole of what is 
due to me, is Eleven pounds, Eleven shillings & four pence 
Lawful money. I flatter myself you will quickly settle this 
account as it has been of long standing, «&: I am in great need 
of the money. 

To say anything to urge you to this will be unnecessary. 
Wishing the peace and prosperity of the town to which you 
belong, I am, sir your 

humb. ser''^ 

Eben^ Hubbard." 
(Addressed to the Treasurer.) 

Stocks. About this time there were placed in the 
meeting-house, stocks, instruments of terror to unruly boys. 
Deacon Parker furnished them at a cost of ten shillings. 

Rev. Thomas Crafts. In January, 1786, Rev. Thomas 
Crafts (after preaching 21 Sabbaths as candidate) was in- 
vited to the pastorate with an annual salary of £80 and 
twenty cords of wood with £200 as a " settlement " and 
the use of the " ministerial pew." Mr. Crafts accepted the 
call and was ordained on the 28th of June following. 

The churches represented in the ordaining council were 
eight in number, from Sterling, Holden, Rutland, Shrews- 
bury, Brookline, Roxbury, Boston and Bridgewater. 

In accordance with custom great preparations were 
made for the entertainment of the council and the many 
visiting friends. The arrangement of the order of services 
was but little in comparison with the burden resting upon 



Ecclesiastical History l6i 

the committee who were appointed to provide for the wants 
of the inner man and arrange for the comfort of those 
remaining in town over night. An intimation of the duties 
of this committee and the expense attending their work 
may be gained from the papers on file by the town. The 
items also afford a strong hint as to what was considered 
necessary for such occasions. 

Mr. Craft's ministry was acceptable and successful but 
owing to ill health he was obliged to relinquish his work, 
and seeing no prospect of early recovery felt compelled 
to ask a dismission which was granted in March, 1791. 
Mr. Crafts was long and pleasantly remembered by his 
parishioners, and the regret of the town at his departure 
and appreciation of his fidelity is expressed in fitting terms 
upon the town record. 

For several months after Mr. Crafts' dismissal the pulpit 
was supplied by Rev. Hezekiah Goodrich whose preaching 
was according to the record " acceptable to the town." 
He received no call from the church to settle in the town 
but he probably became firmly convinced about that time 
that a certain young lady in the town would be " accept- 
able " to him as a helpmeet — and upon his settlement, 
in Rutland in 1793, he married Miss Mary Richards, of 
Princeton. 

Rev. Joseph Russell. What difficulties stood in the way 
of securing a pastor for Princeton church do not appear, 
but the unsatisfactory plan of depending upon transient 
or other " supplies " was pursued until late in the year 
1795 when a call was extended to Rev. Joseph Russell. 
The town on the 7th of December unanimously concurred 
with the church and voted " that the usual mode of giving 
a settlement be dispensed with," and that in place thereof 
a salary of $433.33 be paid him annually. It was also 
voted on the 8th of February, 1796, to " furnish Mr. 
Russell with twenty-five cords of good merchantable wood 
annually, delivered to him at his dwelling-house, so long as 
he shall continue our minister, and the price of staple com- 
modities remain as they now are; but when the capital 



1 62 History of Princeton 

articles of consumption shall revert back to their former 
standard, that is to say, when the price of Beef shall be 
reduced from thirty-six to twenty-four shillings per hun- 
dred; Pork from six to four pence per pound; Rye from 
six to four shillings per bushel; Indian Corn from four and 
six pence to three shillings per bushel; then the whole 
expense of the wood, be it more or less, shall be deducted 
from the hundred and thirty pounds already voted by the 
town, and so in a less proportion as the price of those com- 
odities shall gradually decrease." 

Mr. Russell accepted the invitation and was ordained 
March i6, 1796. A sermon preached upon the occasion 
by Rev. Mr. Backus of Somers, Conn., with some of the 
other addresses has been preserved in print. 

The following year Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns were 
introduced as an aid to worship in place of the Psalms 
previously in use. Mr. Robert B. Thomas agreed to 
furnish six dozen copies of the book at two shillings six 
pence each. 

Mr. Russell's ministrations continued for over five years, 
when being convinced that application to study was 
injurious to him and that on account of his health he ought 
not to continue in his present relations, he requested a 
dismission. After some hesitation on the part of the town, 
owing to questioning of Mr. Russell's motives in leaving, 
which were carefully explained by him in two letters now on 
file, the request was granted September 21, 1801. During 
his pastorate peace and harmony prevailed. 

New Meeting-House. Previous to Mr. Russell's settle- 
ment the necessity for better accommodations for public 
worship became evident and the question of erecting a new 
meeting-house was discussed.^ Upon petition of Capt. 
Samuel Hastings, Amos Meriam, Adonijah How, Stephen 
Mirick, Ephraim Wilson, Solomon Davis and Uriah Moore, 
the town voted March 9, 1795 to build. A committee 

^ The church records show the report of a Committee in regard to the old 
building Dec. 31, 1836 to the effect that it was "not only unfit but unsafe for 
the purposes of public worship." 



Ecclesiastical History 163 

appointed to prepare a plan and estimate the expense 
reported at a subsequent meeting the cost at £1799. and 
the income from sale of pews and of the old house was 
adjudged to be £1875. A building committee consisting 
of Hon. Moses Gill, Capt. Samuel Hastings, Lieut. Amos 
Meriam, David Brooks and William Whitaker were 
instructed to build " on the ground where the old meeting- 
house stands, or as nigh it as shall in the judgement of the 
committee be most eligible." 

Col. John Watson was chosen in Wm. Whittaker's place. 

Dea. Adonijah How was chosen in David Brooks place. 

Contracts for building the house, for which Mr. David 
Brooks appears to have made the plans, were at once made 
and the work entered upon, but it was more than a year 
before the frame was so far completed as to necessitate the 
removal of the old house^ which was done May 9, 1796. 
The town appointed a committee to attend to this " free of 
cost to the town," public notice to be given of the event and 
the house was moved, but certainly not without consider- 
able expense for labor as well as for the usual supplies of 
rum, cider, cheese, etc.^ 

This old building was subsequently sold to Jonas Beaman 
for $80. Captain John Watson appears to have had 
charge of the erection of the new house, and he kept the 
accounts of expenditures and receipts. The first estimate 
was far below the actual cost, which is recorded as being 
£2273:3:5. The purchase of a bell of " proper Bigness " 
was delayed until 1815 when one was procured at an 
expense of $470. 

The receipts from sale of pews, etc., were £1721-3-1, 
leaving a deficit of £545 to be provided for by a general 
tax.^ The frame of the house was raised with the usual 
solemnities in June 1796, and the spire at a subsequent 
date. 

1 This old house was subsequently used for a town house. 
^ " May 4, 1796. For \ Days work with four oxen to Draw Shews for the 
old meeting house S5-6. 

^ May 9. For 5 Barrel Sider When moveing the old meeting House 4-6. 



164 History of Princeton 

The Raising. If the raising of the first meeting-house 
frame was a notable event in the town, this far excelled 
that in the amount of the work to be done, the number 
engaged in it, and the eatables consumed. An examination 
of a portion of the accounts of expenditures for this occasion 
reveals the fact that 560 pounds of meat with six " piggs " 
were provided for the company, which ought apparently 
to have satisfied a goodly number of individuals. But the 
quantity consumed of " articles of the West India kind," 
as they were called, must have been enormous, — bills 
amounting to over $200 appearing on record, and this too, 
when the town was so short of ready cash that the payment 
of these bills was so long delayed that interest on the account 
was demanded and paid. On the 12th of March, 1797, 
the house was completed and occupied for the first time. 
Its dimensions were 70 feet by 55 feet, and it contained 
75 pews on the main floor, 26 in the gallery, besides 6 in 
the porches, which subsequently became dignified by the 
irreverent boys as " nigger pews." If tradition is correct, 
some of the well-known residents of the town were, when 
boys, made to sit in these nigger pews for misbehavior. 
Soon after the plans were made, the pews were sold at 
auction, William Richardson acting as " Vendue Master." 

Decoration. The house was well finished and painted 
both inside and out. As usual, a sounding board hung over 
the pulpit, and it is said that back of the pulpit there were 
some paintings " supposed to represent angel faces," and 
over the window caps on each side, was a figure, of a 
cherub perhaps. All these figures were obliterated during 
a subsequent repainting of the interior. From the facts 
upon record and the assistance of some of the older people 
whose boyhood days were made familiar with both exterior 
and interior of the building, a plan of the main floor has 
been prepared. This plan shows the location of the pews, 
and the owners or occupants of each in 1796 and later — it 
is impossible to designate the successive occupants of all the 
pews. The memories of the old boys and girls recall the 
form of this one and that one, occupying the accustomed 



Ecclesiastical History 165 

seat Sunday after Sunday — and visions of various fam- 
ilies, of their peculiarities and their graces too, come up to 
many a one as he looks over the seats in the old meeting 
house. 

Stove. Whether the exposed location of the building 
led to early decay or not, within twenty years the town 
was loath to expend much money in repairs and in paint- 
ing, and got along with as little expenditure as possible. 
In 1 8 19 Ward N. Boylston, Esq., donated a stove which 
was placed in the house and proved so conducive to 
comfort, that in 1823 authority was given to make some 
changes in the pews for the purpose of erecting additional 
stoves. 

In 1830 the house had become so dilapidated that the 
town voted to make no repairs upon it, excepting windows, 
and that not to exceed three dollars. The building, how- 
ever, was used until the erection of the new one in 1838 
on the spot formerly occupied by Rev. Mr. Clarke's 
garden. The new house cost about $7200. The belF was 
removed from the old to the new, and the parish relin- 
quished all right in the old building, the town assuming all 
liabilities of the pew holders. 

In June, 1840, what was left of the building was taken 
down and nothing is to be seen of it now but some of the 
foundation stones from which the site of the house can be 
readily determined. 

New Meeting-house Committee' s Report 

Your Committee chosen at the last March meeting for 
the purpose of estimating the cost of repairs and other 
expenditures necessary to be made upon the meeting-house, 

^ Aug. 24, 1815 in accordance with a vote of the town, a bell was purchased 
of Paul Revere and Sons of Boston. It weighed 874 lbs. and cost $393.30 
and the expense of purchasing and hanging was $77.18 making the whole cost 
$470.48. Upon the building of the new meeting-house the town released its 
claim upon the bell and it became the property of the church, and was removed 
to the belfry of the new building, where it still hangs. It has thus given 
continuous service for one hundred years. 



1 66 History of Princeton 

also the cost of a new house and the value of the old one for 
the purpose of building into a new one; have taken the 
subject under consideration, and beg leave to report that 
... on examination they found the steple so much de- 
cayed that, in their opinion it is unsafe and dangerous 
for it to remain in its present situation any longer; and 
your committee have accordingly come to the conclusion 
that it ought to be removed as soon as possible. . . . 

To accomplish the removal of the steple, two modes of 
proceedure were suggested to your committee, one was by 
attaching a rope near its top, sawing ofif the posts on which 
it stands and then by a sudden strong pull haul it off; but 
on reflection your committee are of the opinion that placing 
the rope and sawing off the posts will be dangerous under- 
takings, and as they are none of them willing themselves 
to do this service, they are equally unwilling to recommend 
it to be undertaken by any one else; they therefore come 
to the conclusion that this mode of removal will be in- 
judicious. . . . The other mode of removal suggested to 
your committee was by building a stage around it, and 
taking it down by pieces. This mode is thought by your 
committee to be as safe and cheap a method as the nature 
of the business will admit of — and they have estimated 
the cost of removing the steple in this manner including 
the repairs necessary to be made on the bell deck (also all 
repairs of damage by accident or any unforseen occurrence) 
that may be sustained by the other part of the house to be 
$69.00. your committee are of the opinion that it will be 
unnecessary to build any dome or cupola over the bell deck 
after the removal of the steple, for in their opinion, by 
leaving the ballustrade as it now stands, it will look nearly 
or quite as well and be equally as good as it would be if the 
town should be at the expense of erecting a cupola. . . On 
examining the main body of the house, your committee 
found it in much better repair than they expected, and 
they are of the opinion that it will last five years by expend- 
ing upon it the following sums viz. — 



Ecclesiastical History 167 

For boarding up the porches $ 7 . 50 

Stoping leak between main roof and bell deck ... 2 . 50 
Probable expense of mending glass for five years, . 16 . 65 
To prevent the ratling of the windows and support- 
ing the sashes by placing bars across the win- 
dows 4 . 00 

making the whole sum necessary to be expended 

for five years including the removal of the 

steple $30 • 65 

At the expiration of five years the committee are of the 
opinion that extensive repairs will be necessary. 

Your committee have estimated the cost of building a 
new house and are of the opinion that a house 68 feet long 
and 50 feet wide with 18 feet posts may be built (including 
cost of land) for 2800 dollars: Such a house will contain 
60 pews ten feet long 104 free seats and a galery for singers 
. . . and will contain in all about 640 persons. . . 
Your committee are of the opinion that the old house, 
taking it as it now stands, is worth for the purpose of build- 
ing into a new one 584 dollars. 

JACOB W. WATSON, 

Per order 



The Rev. James Murdock was the next pastor. He was 
invited by a unanimous vote of the church, March 18, 1802, 
and by concurrent vote of the town. The salary ofifered 
him was $366.2 3, the use of the parsonage and farm con- 
nected with it, with the usual supply of wood. His careful 
stipulations about the salary, the adjustment of any 
controversy that might possibly arise, and the purchase of 
the parsonage by himself, if desired, denote a clear head 
and commendable prudence. The town had purchased of 
Bartholomew Cheever, Esq., for a parsonage, the house 
formerly occupied by Rev. Mr. Russell and Capt. Henry 
Prentice. This was the building, in later days, owned by 
Mr. Pynson Blake and now owned and occupied by the 



1 68 History of Princeton 

David H. Gregory Co., Inc. In 1802 Mr. Murdock pur- 
chased it of the town. 

The ordination of Mr. Murdock occurred June 23, 1802, 
in preparation for which the town chose a committee " to 
secure the body of the house by proping & chaining the 
same in such a manner as will prevent any injury being 
done thereto, & eight persons app'^ to prevent confusion & 
to preserve order in and about the meeting house on the 
day of the ordination & to keep the doors of the meeting 
house shut against all persons until the Council shall arive 
excepting the singers who are to be admitted to their seats 
when they see fit." Lieut. Adonijah How was " requested 
to prepare such anthems and Tunes as will be suitable to 
the solemnization of the day " and the sum of $100 was 
voted to defray expenses of the ordaining Council at 
Doctor Wilson's whose house was that now lately occupied 
by Edwin Grimes, Esq. 

During Mr. Murdock's settlement there were many 
accessions to the church and uninterrupted harmony pre- 
vailed. He established a weekly prayer meeting, which 
was something entirely new for the town. In 1810 a 
religious revival of great power, such as the town had never 
experienced, resulted in the addition of over thirty persons 
to the church. Conference meetings were held for many 
weeks; two in the center and two in other parts of the 
town, and often as many as 200 persons were present. 

In October, 181 5, Mr. Murdock having received an 
appointment as Professor in the University of Vermont, a 
position for which he was eminently qualified, requested 
and received a dismission and thus closed a pastorate of 
twelve years' duration, full of good works, of wise and 
thoughtful guidance and of lasting good. Expressions of 
affection for the man, approval of his faithful and loving 
services, and sincere regret at his departure were placed 
upon the records of the town. 

Difficulties. After the dismission of Dr. Murdock dif- 
ferences of opinion in respect to religious matters arose, 
which, for many years, caused unhappy divisions among 



Ecclesiastical History 169 

the people. It is needless to relate these matters in detail, 
but an attempt will be made to state them briefly.^ 

Rev. Samuel Clarke. The town at a meeting held 
June 25, 1 816, invited Rev. Samuel Clarke (who had 
preached as a candidate) to become the pastor. 

The church refused to concur with the town in this action, 
asserting the right of the church to chose their pastor, and 
also declaring their dissatisfaction with the doctrine 
preached by Mr. Clarke. 

Mr. Clarke, therefore, declined the call. It was re- 
newed however at a later period and again declined. A 
third call being given without the concurrence of the 
church, an ecclesiastical council was called by the town, 
who advised the church to concur, and adopt a slight 
change in the wording of the covenant. The church refused 
to do this, and the town proceeded to ordain Mr. Clarke, 
June 18, 1817. 

Presbyterian Church. Many disaffected members with- 
drew and formed a Presbyterian Church connected with 
the Newburyport Presbytery, and Rev. Alonzo Phillips 
was settled as pastor Jan. 7, 1820. 

A small house of worship was erected not far from the 
Congregational Church. In 1830 this church voted, on 
account of expense in attending meetings of the Presby- 
tery, to withdraw from the Presbytery and adopt the 
Congregational form of government. They now styled 
themselves the Evangelical Congregational Church. 

Rev. Mr. Clarke closed his pastorate June 18, 1832, and 
soon after became pastor of the Uxbridge Congregational 
Church. He seems to have been a man of ability, and of 
excellent spirit in the trying position in which he was 
placed. 2 

* For particulars see Russell's and Hanaford's Histories of the town. 

^ Within the preceding ten months thirty-three persons have been added 
to our Church. Since my Ordination, eighty-eight have been added to the 
Church, by a public profession of religion, and three by letter; making in all, 
ninety-one. Number of Baptisms, one hundred and twenty-three. The 
hope is fondly cherished, that pure religion will continue to flourish among 
us, and additions be daily made to the Church, of such as shall be saved. 
From a printed address by Rev. Samuel Clarke in 1828. 



170 History of Princeton 

After his departure the church made overtures to the 
Evangelical Church for a union, but without success. 

Rev. John P. Cowles became the next pastor and 
remained from July 13, 1833 to Oct. 5, 1834. After his 
dismissal repeated efforts were made to effect a union of 
the two churches, but they were unsuccessful. 

Mr. Phillips finished his pastorate of the Evangelical 
Church Jan. 13, 1836. A council previously called by the 
other church voted to dismiss Mr. Phillips from the pas- 
torate, though he declared he had never been pastor of 
that church, but only, upon invitation, supplied their 
pulpit for several Sundays. Mr. Phillips took up his 
residence in Newburyport where he died April 26, 1838. 

Union Congregational Church. The two churches, after 
much disagreement as to methods and rights, became 
united although no definite statement of the fact appears 
in the church records, but the church from that time was 
frequently called the Union Congregational Church. 

First Parish. Previous to this, namely Dec. 23, 1833, 
the Congregational Society was organized as the First 
Parish in Princeton. From that time it became legally 
distinct from the municipal corporation, and the support 
of worship was no longer provided by the town.^ 

Rev. Elijah Demond became pastor of the united church 
Oct. 26, 1836, and so continued till 1839. 

Third Edifice. It was during this pastorate in 1838 that 
a new church edifice was erected at the head of the com- 
mon, about 200 feet east of the present library building 
and in 1892 removed to its present location in accordance 
with the agreement with E. A. Goodnow. This house 
was built and owned by John Brooks, Rufus Davis and 
others. Services were held in it for the first time March 6, 

' In June, 1811, the General Court of Mass. passed a law providing that 
a member of any church producing to his town clerk a certificate of member- 
ship shall be exempted from taxation for the maintenance of another church. 
This is known as the "Religious Freedom Act." 

In 1833 Mass. adopted an amendment (Art. XI) to the constitution 
separating church and state, permitting all churches to choose their own pas- 
tors, to raise money for worship, etc., and freeing their members from the sup- 
port of other churches; and placing all churches on an equality before the law. 



Ecclesiastical History 171 

1838. (In March 1839 the Parish voted to relinquish to 
the town all their right in the old meeting-house.) After 
diligent search in Records and public prints no mention 
has been found of the formal dedication of this house. 
The Revere bell was removed from the old building and 
placed in the belfry of the present house. A few years 
later an elegant chandelier, the gift of John Lane Boylston, 
Esq., was placed in the audience room where it still 
remains. Tradition asserts that it came from the Maverick 
Church, East Boston. The church was moved to its 
present location in 1884. A new organ was placed in 
the church in 1910. 

Succeeding Ministers to 191 5. Rev. Willard M. Hard- 
ing, ordained May 20, 1840; dismissed Aug. 28, 1844. 

Rev. Alfred Goldsmith, installed July 15, 1845; dis- 
missed June 7, 1849. 

Rev. Henry Wickes, ordained June 16, 1852; dismissed 
Aug. 28, 1855. 

Rev. William T. Briggs, installed Feb. 13, 1856; dis- 
missed Oct. 19, 1863. 

Rev. John S. Zelie, died in 1866. 

Rev. Geo. M. Howe, installed 1874. 

Rev. Archibald L. Love, installed Apr. 24, 1884; dis- 
missed July 5, 1887. 

Rev. Chas. A. White, commenced April 29, 1888. 

Rev. Chas. E. Reeves, installed 1906. 

The Baptists. There is abundant evidence of the 
existence in the town of persons of Baptist sentiments 
long before any organization was attempted. Some of 
those whose names appear as the first settlers are known 
to have been Baptists. At a town meeting in 1770 it was 
voted that " Aaron Perry be left out of the ministerial 
rates " on account of being a Baptist, and an article was 
inserted in the warrant for the town meeting to be held 
May 27, 1776, " to see if the town will abate all, or any, of 
the ministerial rates of those persons that are of the Baptist 
persuasion." It is pleasant to know that this was done. 

The earliest record, however, of the " Baptist Society " 



172 



History of Princeton 



in this town bears date April 9, 181 7, when a Constitution 
was adopted with the following preamble: 

" We, the subscribers, members of the Baptist Church 
in Holden, and others professing ourselves friendly to their 
cause, so far as it relates to publick worship, viewing it to 
be our privilege as well as duty to help support the Gospel 
ministry agreeably to said church, do hereby enter into a 
Society, by the name of the Baptist Society in Princeton, 
and do promise, covenant and engage to and with each 
other, that we will conform to and be governed by the 
following articles," etc. 



Joshua Everett 
Ephraim Mirick 
Wm, Everett 
David Foskett 
Israel Everett 
Gamaliel Beaman 
Wm. How 
Samuel Everett 
Jonathan Baily 
Josiah Richardson 
Nathan Perry 
Asa Howard 
Elisha Perry 
Stephen Mirick Jr. 
Eliphaz Copeland 
Joshua Everett Jr. 
John Mirick 
John Mirick Jr. 
Jonah Rice 
Simon Fosket 
Joel Meriam 
John Miller 
Paul Sawin 
Adam Chapman 
Josiah Howard 



Subscribers 

Stephen Keyes 

Asahel R. Sever 

Jonas Keyes 

Lucy Richardson 

Isaac Simonds 

John Sawin 

Silas Barnes 

Isaac Williams 

Daniel Foskett Jr. 

Joseph Griffin 

Timothy Fessenden 

Wm. Stearns 

Benja. Stuart 

Joshua S. Everett 

Solomon Rolph 

Ephraim Eveleth 

James Foster 

Simon Hardy 

Asa Rice 

Leonard Mason 

Widow Lois Simonds 

Asaph Fosket 

Zenas Jewett 

Asa Lyon of Hubbardston 

Ralph Rice Stuart 



Ecclesiastical History 



1/3 



Jno. Dodd 
Charles Smith 
Ephraim Mundon 
Wm. Stilman Everett 
Ephrm. Mirick Jr. 
Silas Mason 



Abram Everett 
David Guild 
Benja. Munjoy 
Chandler Smith 
Willard Allen of 
ton 



Hubbards- 



Officers Chosen 
William Everett was chosen Moderator 
Stephen Mirick, Clerk 
William Everett 

Prudential Com. 



Stephen Mirick 
John Mirick Jr. 
Gamaliel Beaman 
William Howe 
Ephraim Mirick Jr. 
Eliphaz Copeland 

Simon Fosket 

Isaac Simonds 

Widow Lois Simonds 

Joel Meriam 

John Sawin 

Asaph Fosket 

John Miller 

Silas Barnes 

Zenas Jewett 

Paul Sawin 

Isaac Williams 

Asa Lyon of Hubbardston 

Adam Chapman 

Daniel Foskett, Jr. 

Ralph Rice Stuart 



Subsequently served on 
this Committee. 

Josiah Howard 

Joseph Griffin 

Abram Everett 

Jn°. Dodd 

Timothy Fessenden 

David Guild 

Charles Smith 

W". Stearns 

Benj^ Munjoy 

Ephraim Mundon 

Benj''. Stuart 

Chandler Smith 

W". Stilman Everett 

Joshua S. Everett 

Willard Allen of Hubbardston 



The Baptist Church. The earliest records of the Baptist 
Church in Princeton are very incomplete. From various 
sources we learn that the Baptist residents of this town 
were members of the church in Templeton, but afterwards 
transferred their membership to the church in Holden. 



174 History of Princeton 

Subsequently, they with other members who resided in 
Leominster were constituted a branch of the Holden 
Church. Persons of this persuasion living in Fitchburg 
were also for a time a branch of the Princeton Church. 
But finally the Leominster and Fitchburg brethren became 
distinct churches, and the Princeton members were or- 
ganized as a distinct church July 31, 1822, with twenty- 
eight members. 

The first church record existing bears date July 12, 1828. 
A pastor is mentioned Aug. 17, 1828. Notice was given 
Oct. 12 that the new meeting house erected by the Baptist 
Society would be finished Oct. 29, and it was voted to 
dedicate it on that day. Rev. Jonathan Going of Wor- 
cester was chosen to preach on that occasion with Rev. 
Elisha Andrews as substitute. The building was on a lot 
containing 73 square rods, the gift of Mr. John Mirick. 
It was on the lower Westminster road, north of Mr. 
Harlow Skinner's. The house was of brick, its dimensions 
being 42 by 34 feet; it had two porches, and contained a 
gallery. Its cost was $2000. A Bible, the gift of John 
Lane Boylston of Boston, was presented to the church, 
March 13, 1828, through Rev. Samuel Clarke of the 
Congregational Church who accompanied it with words 
expressive of kindly fellowship. 

Rev. Elisha Andrews of Templeton supplied the church 
at intervals for several years as did also Rev. John 
Walker of Holden during which latter time a revival 
added twenty members to the church in Holden. Rev. 
Mr. Andrews was born in Middleton, Ct., Sept. 29, 1768, 
ordained at Fairfax, Vt., in 1793, and settled at Templeton 
in 1800 where he remained 13 or 14 years. He afterwards 
settled in Hinsdale, N. H. He died at Hinsdale, Feb. 3, 
1840. 

Rev. Elias Johnson was also a supply for the church, 
preaching both at Westminster and Princeton. 

In March, 1830 about thirty of the members obtained 
a dismission to form a separate church in Westminster. 
At a later date the Princeton and Westminster churches 



Ecclesiastical History 175 

called the Rev. Appleton Morse to become their pastor. 
He was born in 1805, was a student at Brown University 
in 1824-5, at Newton Theological Institution in 1827-30 
and was ordained at Westminster Oct. 1830. But in the 
spring of 1831 he withdrew from the pastorate at West- 
minster and confined his labors to the Princeton church 
with success until April, 1832, when he terminated his 
labors there, and soon after settled at Fitchburg, where he 
died, Oct. 24, 1838. 

The Princeton church, August 18 and 19, 1830 enter- 
tained the Worcester Baptist Association when the Con- 
gregational church kindly furnished its house of worship 
for the meeting, for which courtesy the Association re- 
turned thanks, Rev. Mr. Clarke responding in a fraternal 
manner. It is somewhat amusing to read that the Parish 
voted to " provide crackers of bread instead of wheat 
loaves " for the occasion. 

Rev. Nehemiah G. Lovell was ordained pastor of the 
church July 10, 1834 ^^^^ held the position till Nov. 11, 
1836, when at his own request he was dismissed to become 
pastor at Amherst, N. H. He was born in Rowley in 1806, 
was a graduate of Brown University in 1833, and spent 
a short time at Newton Theological Institution. Follow- 
ing his pastorate at Amherst, he was pastor at Bellingham 
and No. Attleboro. He died at Valley Falls, R. I., Nov. 15, 
1851. In 1837 Rev. Mason Ball became pastor and so 
continued till 1840. Mr. Ball was born in West Boylston, 
Sept. 20, 1798. He was ordained in Amherst in 1833, 
where he remained as pastor till 1836. He had a second 
pastorate in Amherst after leaving Princeton. He died 
at Amherst Nov. 16, 1873. It was during his pastorate 
at Princeton that a new church building was erected in the 
centre of the town. 

The next pastor was Rev. Orlando Cunningham, who 
was ordained Nov. 23, 1841. He remained as pastor till 
Jan'y, 1844, when he was dismissed at his own request. 

He was born at Saxton's River, Yt., Jan. 31, 18 15. After 
leaving Princeton he was settled in Sterling, Middlefield 



176 History of Princeton 

and Lebanon, Conn. In the last pastorate he remained 
ten years and had marked success. He then supplied the 
church in Rutland, Vt., for two or three years, where he 
died March 16, 1888. 

The church suffered for some years from the anti- 
Sabbatarian views of some of its members, and also from 
anti-slavery agitation, temperance discussion and Miller- 
ism. From these causes and the loss of members it became 
too weak to support a pastor and no regular preaching 
services were held after November, 1851. The house of 
worship was sold in i860, and soon after was converted 
into a hotel, called The Prospect House, but now known 
as Princeton Inn, 

Methodist Church. This church though never large, 
maintained a position of influence in the town. It was 
formed by those who differed from the other church in 
their views of doctrine and church polity, but included 
many persons of prominence, and was served by a long 
series of able pastors. Though for many reasons it declined 
in numbers, it exerted a healthful religious influence in the 
community. 

During the first of the year 1838, George Lewis of the 
Baptist Church and Silas Fay of the Congregational 
Church, requested dismission from these churches, and 
joined the M. E. Church in Worcester. Rev. James Porter, 
D.D. of the Worcester M. E. Church, preached in March, 
1838, in the old Town House to a large company, who 
wished to learn more of the "Methodist doctorine and 
usages" and as they wished preaching on Sunday, Rev. 
Benj. Paine of Oxford preached from the 3d Sunday in 
April, 1838, to the ist of June following. 

There was great interest aroused, which extended to 
Hubbardston and Rutland ; many were added to the Con- 
gregational Church in Princeton. In June, 1839, the M. E. 
Church numbered in all 138 communicants. Many of this 
number were former members of Rev. Mr. Phillips church. 
Mr. Paine was then stationed regularly in Princeton. 

The increase in membership encouraged the building of 



Ecclesiastical History 177 

a church edifice which was dedicated Feb. 13, 1840. It 
was located west of the center near Mr. Grime's residence. 
It cost $4500.00 without the bell, which was purchased by 
subscription, for $500.00. Jonas Brooks ^ gave $200.00. 
Early in 1840 the M. E. Church began its legal existence. 
No services have been held by this church since the burn- 
ing of their house of worship and many of the members 
have identified themselves with the Congregational Church. 
The records of this church were placed in the care of the 
Methodist Historical Society in Boston. ^ The church edi- 
fice was burned June 14, 1892. 

Methodist Ministers Assigned by the Conference since 1839 

1839 Benjamin Paine 1850-51 Jeremiah L. Hanaford 

40 Stephen Gushing 52-53 Simon Putnam 

41 William R. Stone S4~S5 Increase B. Bigelow 

42 Porter R. Sawyer 56 John Cadwell 

43 Joseph W. Lewis S7~s8 Abram S. Dobbs 

44 Joseph W. Lewis 59-60 John Goodwin 

45 Kinsman Atkinson 61-62 Porter M. Vinton 

46 Howard G. Dunham 63-64 Charles T. Johnson 

47 Albert A. Cook 65 S. R. Bailey 

48 Albert A. Cook 66 

49 Henry M. Bridge 67 Franklin Fisk 

^ Two Samuel Brooks of Princeton: Capt. Samuel son of Enoch Brooks 
who lived next house beyond the Fuller place born 1779 Married Nabby 
Beaman. She left ^600.00 to the M. E. Church. 

Samuel Brooks Who married a Miss Hubbard of Holden. He left money 
to the Baptist Church in Holden, " In memory of his wife, Lucy (Hubbard) 
Brooks." 

The Methodist Church in Princeton, had $1000.00 given by the widow of 
Jonas Brooks Esq. Lydia (m.n.) Temple. 

2 Lightning struck the Methodist Church Tuesday evening, June 14, 
1892, setting the steeple on fire and igniting and exploding a can of kerosene 
oil in the basement. 

The fire in the basement was soon extinguished, but the fire in the steeple 
could not be reached and soon all hope of saving the church was given up. 
The house was cleared of all furnishings, and through the hard work of the 
citizens all buildings in the vicinity of the church were saved. There was 
no insurance. 

The unfortunate people were invited by the Congregational ists to worship 
with them or to use their house for services of their own. 

{Spy, Friday, June 17, 1892.) 



178 History of Princeton 

Methodist Ministers Assigned by the Conference 
SINCE 1839 {continued) 

1868 John W. Cole 1884-85 Charles Nicklin 

69-70 Nathaniel F. Stevens 86 F. A. Everett 

71 Nathan D. George 87-88 William Silverthome 

72-73 John Noon 89 W. H. Atkinson 

75-77 John H. Emerson 90 

78-80 Edwin C. Ferguson 91 Osman W. Adams 
81-82 Frederic B. Graves 

The Universalists. As one of the results of the religious 
dissension in the town, some who favored liberal preaching 
formed a Universalist Society, April 29, 1833 with 32 
members. The officers were as follows: 

Committee, Col. John W. Watson, Col. John Whitney, 
and Samuel Randall; Col. Whitney being Clerk and Col. 
Watson treasurer. Col. Watson was frequently a delegate 
to the denominational Associations and prominent in their 
councils. 

The Society for several years maintained occasional 
preaching, but finally ceased to exist. 



CHAPTER VIII 
TOWN GOVERNMENT 

First Town Meeting. The differences and the dis- 
cussions between the fractions of the East Wing and the 
Farms perhaps tended to develop the leaders of the future 
town. As soon as the Act of Incorporation was passed, 
it became manifest that just then some good work must 
be done by the very best men. Few of them had had 
experience. 

The warrant for the first meeting must have been issued 
by Capt. Wm. Richardson of Lancaster, as directed by the 
General Court. This meeting was held Dec. 24, 1759 at 
the Inn of Abijah Moore and according to Mr. Russell's 
statement in his History, officers were elected to serve till 
March, succeeding, and a few other items were attended 
to — the full statement by Russell is as follows: 

Lost Records. At the time his History was written there 
must have been some persons then living who were present 
at the first meetings and could verify his statements. 
There may have been and probably was another meeting 
in 1760. We give in full the record of the meeting held 
March, 1761, with the warrant calling for the same, the 
first recorded in our town books. Unfortunately we have 
no copy of the warrant or of the Acts of the earlier meetings. 
Two or more pages of the first record book including the 
record of several meetings have been lost. The first record 
(according to Hanaford) that we have of a meeting is given 
below. This shows that the voters attended to matters 
which seemed at that time of first importance, such as the 
building of a meeting-house, raising money by taxation, 
building roads, making provision for a pound, providing 
for salaries of officers, etc. 

A list of voters appears with other papers relating to a 
town meeting held in March, 1761, at which meeting it w as 

179 



i8o History of Princeton 

alleged that the Moderator, Dr. Harvey, resorted to some 
unwarranted and illegal measures. (The Doctor was 
chosen Moderator, District Clerk, Chairman of the Select- 
men and of the Assessors, and Agent to the General Court.) 

A protest was entered upon the records of the town and 
subsequently a petition reciting the grievances was sent 
to the General Court, asking that the proceedings be 
declared null and void. The Court, however, decided in 
Dr. Harvey's favor, confirming the proceedings. 

Attached to the petition referred to are the following 
names : 

Non Voters Voters 

Gideon Fisher Isaac Wheeler 

Thos. Mason Joseph Rugg 

Joseph Eveleth Eliphalet How 

Isaac Wheeler Jr. Ephraim Allen 

Robert Cowdin Oliver Davis 

Sadey Mason James Thomson 

Timothy Keyes Wm. Muzzy 

Joseph Gibbs 

The protest on town records is signed by 8 which are 
checked here. Feb., '63, Harvey as Agent granted £11. 

One must judge from the records that Dr. Harvey was 
the leading man of the town; and very soon the troubles 
occasioned by his actions necessitated an appeal from a 
large number of voters, which appeal was carried to the 
General Court, where however the Dr.'s acts were sustained 
and the meeting approved as legal. All this sort of busi- 
ness was new to the residents and the immediate needs of 
the new town were scarcely comprehended. But we should 
give credit to all the officers, who served in the early 
years, as doing their best to advance the interests of the 
new town. 

Subsequent Town Meetings have been called for 150 
years under warrants identical in form with this of 1761. 
There have been recorded the warrants and actions thereon 



Town Government i8i 

of meetings. Apparently the only difference in the busi- 
ness of the meetings has been the discontinuance of certain 
offices such as Hogreeve, Tithingman, etc., which as in the 
early days seemed necessary. 

The First District Meeting was held Dec. 24, 1759 at 
Mr. Moore's Tavern where all meetings continued to be 
held until the Meeting House was so far completed as to be 
used in 1763. 

The records of these meetings until 1761 are lost from 
the record books. Dr. Zachariah Harvey was the first 
District and Town Clerk and was evidently then the 
most influential citizen. 

The petition for incorporation was in his handwriting 
and in 1761 he was not only Clerk but Moderator, Chair- 
man of Selectmen, Assessors and Agent to the General 
Court. The proceedings of the meeting, however, at which 
he attained his plurality of offices were contested : a protest 
declaring them illegal " by reason of the meeting not being 
purged from such persons or voters as are unqualified by 
law to vote " was filed. 

Warrant for Meeting, Mar. 16, 1761 

Worcester, S. S. To Samuel Hastings one of the con- 
stables of the Destrict of Princetown, Greeting. You are 
hereby required to warn and give notice to all the free- 
holders and other Inhabitants of said Princetown qualified 
to vote in Town affairs to meete and assemble at the house 
of Leiut. Abijah Moore, Inholder, in said Princetown on 
Monday the sixteenth day of March next ensuing the date 
hereof at nine of the clock in the forenoon and then and 
there to act on the following Articles, viz: 

I To Choose a Moderator for the Government of said 

meeting. 
n To Choose all other Town officers agreeable to law 
for the year ensuing and also an Agent to Repre- 
sent said deestrict at the General Court. 



1 82 History of Princeton 

III To see if the Destrict will build a pound and act 

anything relative thereto. 

IV To see if the Destrict will Raise a sum of money to be 

assessed on the poles and personal estate of the 
Destrict for the necessary use of the Destrict for 
the present year. 
V To see if the Destrict will vote to build a Meeting 
house, to wit, the house for the publick Worship of 
God in some other place than that where it is 
already voted to be built on, and vote anything 
relative thereunto that the Destrict shall think 
proper, or otherwise to vote where the said meeting 
house shall be built. 

VI To see if the Destrict will vote to build a meeting 
house as soon as can be conveniently and choose 
a Committee for the same and make report unto 
the Destrict upon what terms they can get it built 
and when or act anything as the Destrict shall 
think proper. 
VII To see if the Destrict will vote what the wages of the 
Assessors shall be for the future or act anything 
thereon as the Destrict may think proper. 
VIII To except of such Rodes as there shall be returns 
made off or aney part of them as the Destrict shall 
think proper. 

IX To see if the Destrict will vote to Let Swine Run at 
Large. 

hereof fail not and make Due Return hereof to some one 
of the Selectmen before said meeting date at princetown 
the sixteenth day of february Anno Domi 1761 and in the 
first year of his Majesty's Reign per order of the Select- 

Zachariah Harvey Destrict Clerk. 

Worcester S. S., March ye i6th, 1761 in obedience to this 

Warrent I have warned and notified all the persons within 

mentioned to meete at time and place for the purposes 

within mentioned. r^ 1 tt ^- r- ^ li 

pr Samuel Hastmgs Constable. 



Town Government 



183 



The above said meeting being met and convened at the 
time and place above mentioned the following votes were 
passed, viz: 

Zechariah Harvey Choose moderator of Said Meeting. 
Zechariah Harvey Choosen Destrict Clark. 
Zechariah Harvey 

Selectmen 



Joseph Gibbs 
Leiut. Abijah Moore 
Timothy Mossman 
Zechariah Harvey 
Abijah Moore 
Peter Good now 
Peter Good now 
Caleb Myrick 
Sadey Mason 
Samuel Nicols 
Joseph Rugg 

Paul Mathews 
Stephen Brigham 
Silas Whiteny 
Till Littlejohn 
Gedion Fisher 

Timothy Keyes 

Robert Keyes 

Samuel Hastings 
Amos Spring 

James Myrick 
Oliver D 

Amos Powers 

(2) Samuel Hastings 

Robert Cowdon 
Edward Wilson 

Able Ray 

Stephen Brigham 



Assessors 

Destrict Treasurer 
Constables 

Tythingmen 
Surveyors of highways 



Not sworn 

Clark of the Market 

Fence Viewers 
Field Drivers 
Hogg Reav 

Dear Reav 

Survey of boards and shingles 
Sealer of Lathes 



184 History of Princeton 

Peter Goodnow 



T.. ^, Tv/r I Wardens 

limothy Mossman 

Zacharlah Harvey Choosen Agent to Represent the Des- 
trict at the General Court. 

This may certify that all the above mentioned officers 
(except Timothy Keyes) was duly sworn as the Law directs 
Respecting the taking of the paper curranses of other 
Governments and the Respective oathes belonging to each 
of their offices. 

Test Zechariah Harvey Moderator. 

Voted. Coll John Whitcomb of Bolton, Deacon Samuel 
Perce of Holden and Deacon Joseph Miller of Westminister 
be a committee to measure the said Destrict of Princetown 
and find the center thereof and affix or order the place for 
building the meeting house on, to wit. The house for the 
publick worship of God — and if the center be not suitable 
ground to build said house on, then on the nearest place to 
the center that is suitable according to the best judgment of 
said Committee, and they are Desired to make return 
thereof at the adjournment of this meeting, and it is also 
voted that Mr. Thomas Harmon of Rutland and Deacon 
Jonathan Livermore of Westboro be surveyors for the 
purposes above said and that all the said Committee and 
Surveyors be under oath for the trust Committed to them 
above said. Also voted that the vote for building the said 
meeting house within two rods of the most southerly corner 
of Mr. John Mirick's Land be and hereby is Rescinded and 
Discontinued. 

Voted that this meeting be adjourned to Munday the 
third day of May at nine o'clock in the forenoon at the 
home of Leiut. Abijah Moore Inholder in Said Destrict. 

Zechariah Harvey Moderator. 

The above adjournment of the above said meeting being 
on Munday the third of May, which third day of May 
was Sabbath day and was a mistake in the adjournment 
and they meet on Munday the fourth day of May and voted 



Town Government 185 

to adjourn this meeting to Munday the 29lh day of June 
next ensuing at 9 of the clock in the forenoon at the house 
of Leiut. Abijah Moore Inholder in said Princetown. 

Zechariah Harvey Moderator. 

The Disent hereafter mentioned was entered at the afore- 
said meeting on the i6th of March 1761. 

We the subscribers, Inhabitants and freeholders of 
Princetown Destrict judging the annual meeting in Prince- 
town Destrict on the i6th of March 1761 to be Illegal by 
Reason of the Meeting not being purged from such persons 
or voters as are unqualified by Law for voting, we do there- 
fore hereby enter our Desent against said meeting appearing 
to us as unlawful. 

Princetown Destrict March ye i6th. 1761. 

Capt. Eliphlet How 
James Thompson 
Oliver Davis 
Isaac Wheler 
Ephriam Allen 
Sadey Mason 
William Muzzy 
Gideon Fisher 

The aforesaid meeting on the Said 29 of June, 1761, met at 
said time and place and passes the following votes viz: 

Voted. That Caleb Mirick's barn yard be a pound for 
the present year and that said Mirick be pound keeper. 

Voted. That the sum of forty pounds of money be 
assessed on the poles and personal estate of said Destrict 
for Defraying the charges thereof. 

Voted. To dismiss the fifth Article mentioned in the 
Warrant and not to except the report of the Committee 
that was chosen in the former meeting on said article to 
afix and order the place for the building of the said meeting 
house. 



1 86 History of Princeton 

Voted. To dismiss the Sixth Article. 
Voted. To dismiss the Seventh Article. 
Voted. To dismiss the Eighth Article. 
Voted. On the Ninth Article to Let the Same run at 
large. 

Zechariah Harvey Moderator. 

In the distribution of offices, the residents of the Farms 
seem to have had rather more than their full proportion. 

Protest, Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New 
England. To his Excellency Francis Barnard Esq., Cap- 
tain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Province 
aforesaid. 

To the Honourable the Council and House of Repre- 
sentatives in General Court assembled on Wednesday the 
twenty-fifth Day of March Anno Domini 1761. 

We the subscribers, Inhabitants of the District of 
Princetown in the County of Worcester and legal Voters in 
Town and District affairs, humbly shew your Excellency 
and Honours, 

That at ye District Annual Meeting held there on the 
sixteenth day of March instant, among other things to 
choose the usual District officers for said District, there 
were several Votes and Transactions altogether illegal and 
unwarranted and unfairly and unduly obtained by means 
of many persons being admitted to vote at said meeting 
that were not legal voters there, and some that were not 
even Inhabitants of the same. That as the Voters and 
Inhabitants were gathering together for the said meeting 
Zacharlah Harvey of the same District, Physician, who was 
our District Clerk, Selectman and Assessor the last year, 
without any direction or order from the Selectmen or 
without their knowledge or consent opened the same 
meeting and called upon the unwarrantable proceedings 
yet the said Harvey swore in and procured himself to 
be chosen the Moderator, District Clerk, a Selectman 
and an Assessor, as well as an Agent to appear at the 
General Court in behalf of said District all which pro- 



Town Government 187 

ceedlngs, your petitioners humbly apprehend are illegal, 
arbitrary and destructive of their most precious privi- 
leges, the said Harvey being chosen into all the offices 
aforesaid by a majority of such as were not voters accord- 
ing to law, and against the sense and inclination of a 
majority of such as were legal voters and personally 
present. 

The chief part of the officers chosen at said meeting and 
other matters transacted there, being obtained in the same 
way and manner, and some things never put to vote as the 
warrant for calling the meeting required. 

Particularly there was an article in the warrant to see if 
the District would choose an Agent to appear at the 
General Court, but the said Harvey instead of putting it to 
vote to see if they would choose an Agent, knowing there 
was none needed, called upon them and insisted on their 
bringing in their vote for an Agent, without knowing or 
trying if it was the mind of the District first to send one as 
the warrant directed and so by the number present not 
being legal voters and by some means or other for the 
present being inclined to please him, as the meeting was at 
a Tavern. 

The Doctor in as Persons present, tho but a very small 
number to bring in their votes for Moderator which was 
then done immediately by such as were present the major 
part of them being no legal voters at said meeting, and by 
that artifice the said Harvey procured himself to be chosen 
the Moderator. Whereupon a number of ye legal voters 
having notice of the Meeting being opened contrary to 
their expectation, the hour for the meeting being scarce 
arrived, as they apprehended, hastened to said meeting to 
regulate matters which they were informed were carrying 
on in such an hasty manner there, and perceiving a con- 
siderable number of people present and acting which by 
the list of Estate and Valuation taken for the last year they 
knew were not voters qualified according to law to vote 
at such meeting, and also some who were not even inhabi- 
tants of said District called upon the said Harvey who 



1 88 History of Princeton 

was given the Moderator in the manner aforesaid to purge 
the meeting, to see by the list of Estates and Valuation 
were taken by the Assessors last year and in his hands who 
were voters and who were not of the number present offer- 
ing to vote. 

He assumed it could not be done for that he had neither 
list there and went on calling for votes and acting on the 
articles of the meeting without taking further notice of what 
the Inhabitants and Voters offered and objected to the 
proceedings. 

Seeing which a number of the Voters belonging to same 
District entered their Dissent against said Harvey their 
Agent all which offices the Doctor grossly accepted and 
still attempts to hold. Nor was his conduct at our last 
meeting the only instance wherein the said Doctor Harvey 
hath acted contrary to his duty and trust, for on the 23d. 
Day of October last when the District had a meeting to 
choose an Agent to transact some matters in behalf of said 
District at the Great and General Court, Captain Eliphalet 
How was chosen an Agent, the said Harvey then being 
District Clerk, refused and neglected to record the vote of 
the said How's being chosen and said it was best to it, 
but after that the said Harvey himself presumed to appear 
as our Agent and act accordingly under the colour of his 
having been once before chosen Agent for the said District, 
though he utterly refused. 

Wherefore matters are now carried in such a disorderly 
way and manner and as we who are the major part of the 
legal voters belonging to said District, apprehend is directly 
contrary to the true intent and meaning of the law of this 
Province respecting such matters, humbly pray that the 
proceedings of this last meeting this March may be con- 
sidered as void, and that the Inhabitants of said District 
may be empowered and enabled to call another meeting, 
choose new officers, accept roads and transact all other 
matters at some other meeting which might or should have 
been done at the last in as full and ample manner as tho 
the same had never been held, or some other way relieve 



Town Government 189 

your petitioners from their oppression as in your wisdon 
may deem meet and your petitioners as in duty bound shall 
ever pray. 

The first physician by the name of Dr. Zachariah Harvey 
settled about this time on the farm afterwards owned and 
occupied by the late Deacon Ebenezer Parker. 

In accordance with the last clause of the act of incor- 
poration a warrant was issued by William Richardson of 
Lancaster, directed to Dr. Zachariah Harvey and on the 
24th day of December, 1759, the inhabitants convened at 
the house of Abijah Moore for their first District meeting. 
Municipal officers were chosen and from that day Princeton 
assumed her place among the regularly organized Districts 
of the Commonwealth. 

Several pages are missing from the first volume of the 
town Records, consequently the proceedings of the above 
mentioned meeting are lost. The officers chosen at this 
meeting were only chosen to serve until the March fol- 
lowing, when, as at the present time, the regular meeting 
for an election was held ; hence the first March meeting 
was convened in 1760. The first, however, of which the 
proceedings are found on record was held in March, 1761. 

It Is very evident from the foregoing protest, which is 
transcribed from the records, that there was some difficulty 
at this meeting. 

After giving several grants Including Potash Farm of 
1000 acres granted to one Plaisted In case he should teach 
the people the manufacture of potash, buildings were 
erected and the manufacture commenced. For some 
reason Plaisted failed to get the land and it was granted 
to Gen. Ruggles for Militia services. 

The remainder of the Province land was probably 
settled by adventurers or taken up by speculators. 

Town Officers from 1760 to 19 15. 

Selectmen. 

Peter Goodnow, 1760, 4, 5, 7. Joseph Gibbs, 1760, i, 3, 7, 8, 70. 

Abijah Moore, 1760, i, 3. Timothy Moseman, 1761, 2. 

Zachariah Harvey, 1760, i. EHphalet How, 1762. 



190 



History of Princeton 



Boaz Moore, 1762, 3, 6, 70-2, 8, 81- 

92. 
Robert Keyes, 1762. 
Caleb Mirick, 1762, 70, i, 1808, 9. 
Ebenezer Jones, 1763, 6-72, 4-6. 
Samuel Woods, 1763. 
Benjamin Holden, 1764, 9, 73, 80- 

2, 90, I. 
Stephen Brigham, 1764, 5, 8, 71, 5-7. 
Tilly Little John, 1764. 
William Muzzey, 1764, 9. 
Sadey Mason, 1765, 6, 78-91. 
William Thompson, 1765, 6, 72-7. 
Benjamin Taynter, 1765-7. 
Robert Cowden, 1766. 
Oliver Davis, 1767. 
Ephraim Woolson, 1768, 9, 72, 3, 5, 

8. 
Adonijah Howe, 1768, 76, 7, 9, 1818. 
Joseph Sargent, 1769, 70, 8, 82-5, 

1807, 8. 
James Mirick, 1771, 6, 7. 
James Phelps, 1772. 
Paul Mathews, 1773, 80. 
Joseph Eveleth, 1773, 5, 81, 5, 1809. 
William Richardson, 1774. 
Charles Brooks, 1774, 80. 
Elisha Hobbs, 1777, 9, 94, 5. 
Samuel Hastings, 1778, 1810-12. 
Ephraim Hartwell, 1779. 
Abraham Gale, 1779. 
John Mirick, 1780. 
Asa Whitcomb, 1781. 
William Dodds, 1783-93, 6, 1807. 
Abner How, 1786-89. 
Ebenezer Parker, 1 786-92, 6-8, 1804- 

5- 
Abijah Harrington, 1792,3, 6, 7. 
Ephraim Mirick, 1792, 3. 
Isaac Hartwell, 1793-5. 
David Rice, 1 793-1800, 4-7. 
John Dana, 1794, 5, 1801-9. 
John W^atson, 1794, 5. 
Jonas Beaman, 1796-9. 
Andrew Whitney, 1 798-1800, 4-6. 
Samuel Dadman, 1 799-1802. 
Ephraim Wilson, 1800-3. 
Amos Meriam, 1801-3, 23-9. 
Bartholomew Cheever, 1803. 



Simon Davis, 1803-9. 

Samuel Stratton, 1808, 9. 

Joshua Eveleth, 1810-12. 

Charles Mirick, 1810-12. 

Benjamin Harrington, 1810. 

Artemas How, 1810-15. 

Jonas Brooks, 1811-14. 

Samuel Stevenson, 1813-17. 

Jonas Hartwell, 1813-20. 

Samuel Brooks, 1813. 

Israel How, Jr., 1814-16, 20-2. 

William Everett, 1814, 15. 

Henry Prentiss, 181 5. 

Calvin Bullock, 1816, 17. 

Azor Maynard, 18 16. 

Jacob W. Watson, 1816-18, 28, 9 

36, 1, 49. 
Moses Hobbs, 1817, 18. 
Josiah Cutting, 181 7, 18. 
Nahum Wilder, 1818. 
Israel Howe, 1819, 20. 
Joshua Temple, 1819. 
Thomas Wilder, 1819. 
Moses Bullard, 1819-22. 
John Mirick, Jr., 1820, i. 
Clark Mirick, 1820-2. 
Joseph Mason, 1821, 7, 30, 6. 
Ephraim Mirick, Jr., 1822-7. 
John H. Brooks, 1823-9, 36. 
Moses G. Cheever, 1823-8, 30, i. 
Gamaliel Beaman, 1828-9. 
Ebenezer Parker, Jr., 1829. 
Rufus Davis, 1830-2. 
John Whitney, 1830-5. 
Israel Everett, 1830-33, 40-2. 
Enoch Brooks, 1831-3. 
Caleb Dana, 1832-4, 7, 8. 
Harlow Skinner, 1834-6. 
Nathan Meriam, 1834, 5. 
Joshua T. Everett, 1834, 5. 
Daniel Parker, 1835, 45. 
Alfred Beaman, 1836, 7. 
Sewall Mirick, 1837, 8. 
John L. Boylston, 1837-9. 
William How, 1838, 9. 
John Brooks, 1838-45, 7, 8. 
Henry Boyles, 1839-41, 9, 50. 
Jonas Brooks, Jr., 1839-41. 
Edward A. Goodnow, 1840, i. 



/760, 






^/^/^-/^/^, ^/"^/^c:^ ^W, I^W^^ ^^^^ 










Town Government 



191 



Erasmus D. Goodnow, 1842, 3. 
Alphonzo Brooks, 1843, 4, 6, 7. 
Charles Russell, 1844-6. 
David H. Gregory, 1846-8. 
Ebenezer Smith, 1848, 9. 
Asa H. Goddard, 1850, 62, 3. 
Solon S. Hastings, 1850, i. 
William H. Brown, 185 1, 2. 
Charles A. Mirick, 1852. 
George O. Skinner, 1852-54. 
Benjamin Holden, 1853. 
Paul M. Mirick, 1854. 
Caleb S. Mirick, 1855. 
Frederick Parker, 1856, 70. 
Joseph D. Brigham, 1856. 
John A. Mirick, 1857, 8. 
George E. Pratt, 1858, 9. 
Phinehas A. Beaman, 1858, 62, 3. 
Charles A. Whittaker, 1859, 60. 
George F. Folger, 1859, 60, i, 71-3. 
John H. Hobbs, i860, i. 
Ezra S. Keyes, 1861, 2. 
Isaac F. Thompson, 1863, 4. 
William B. Goodnow, 1864, 5. 
Jonathan Z. Wetherbee, 1864, 5. 
Albert C. Howe, 1865. 
George E. Pratt, 1866. 
Rufus Davis, Jr., 1866, 7, 70, i, 6, 

83-85. 
N. R. Howe, 1866, 7. 
A. G. Thompson, 1867, 8. 
George O. Skinner, 1868, 9, 71, 2. 
Joseph Whitcomb, 1868, 9, 71, 2. 
Nelson S. Howard, 1869, 70. 
Isaac F. Thompson, 187 1, 81. 
Moses H. Bullard, 1873, 4, 80-2. 
John Brooks, 1873-5. 



Charles H. Thompson, 1875, 86, 7, 

94. 
Nathan B. Reed, 1876, 7, 83-5. 
Warren H. Bryant, 1876. 
A. T. Beaman, 1877, 8. 
Moses H. Bullard, 1878, 9, 81, 2, 
Jonathan Z. Wetherbee, 1878-80. 
Oliver Osgood, 1879, 80. 
Josiah D. Gregory, 1881-3. 
Isaac F. Thompson, 1881, 2. 
Elias O. Hastings, 1884-6, 94, 5. 
Atwood B. Keyes, 1886-8. 
William R. Howe, 1887-9. 
Martin V. Ball, 1888-90. 
Way land C. Davis, 1889, 90-2, 

6,7. 
Charles W. Reed, 1890-2, 9, 1900-5. 
Herbert P. Houghton, 1891-3. 
Eugene R. Buck, 1892, 3. 
Prentice C. Doolittle, 1893. 
Harry C. Beaman, 1894-6, 8-1900- 

2. 
Charles H. Thompson, 1894, 5, 7- 

1900-6. 
Levi Cushman, 1895-97. 
William S. Brooks, 1905-9. 
E. R. Buck, 1906-9. 
I. E. Pratt, 1908-10. 
Guy H. Chase, 1907. 
H. C. Richardson, 1910. 
C. S. Walton, 1910. 
Herbert P. Houghton, 1910-11-12. 
William M. Roper, 1911-13-15. 
John B. Marcou, 1911-13 (died). 
John C. F. Mirick, 1912-13-14. 
Henry C. Delano, 1912-15. 
Henry S. Whitney, 1915. 



Town Clerks. 



Zachariah Harvey, 1760, i. 

Caleb Mirick, 1762, 70, i. 

Samuel Woods, 1763. 

Peter Goodnow, 1764, 5, 7. 

Boaz Moore, 1766. 

Ephraim Woolson, 1768,9,72, 3, 5,8. 

William Richardson, 1774. 

James Mirick, 1776, 7. 

William Dodds, 1779-93, 97-1814. 

Albert C. Howe, 1874, 5, 7. 



John Dana, 1794-6. 
Artemas How, 1815-18. 
Jonas Hartwell, 1819, 20. 
Charles Russell, 1821-35, 37-49. 
Erasmus D. Goodnow, 1836. 
David H. Gregory, 1850-84. 
Josiah D. Gregory, 1885. 
Edwin Grimes, 1886-1901. 
Raymond J. Gregory, 1902-15. 
Josiah D. Gregory, 191 5- 



192 



History of Princeton 



Town Treasurers. 



Peter Goodnow, 1761. 

James Mirick, 1762, 3. 

Timothy Keyes, 1764, 5. 

Sadey Mason, 1766. 

Joseph Sargent, 1767, 70, i. 

Abner Howe, 1768, 9. 

Joseph Eveleth, 1772, 3. 

Robert Cowden, 1774-7. 

Charles Brooks, 1778. 

Joseph Haynes, 1779. 

Enoch Brooks, 1 780-181 2, 14, 16. 

David Rice, 1813. 

Benjamin Harrington, 1817-21. 

Thomas Wilder, 1822. 

Jacob W. Watson, 1823, 4, 34-6. 

Jonas Brooks, 1825-33. 



Charles Mirick, 1826, 32. 
Moses G. Cheever, 1827-30, 42. 
John Brooks, 183 1. 
Joseph Mason, 1837-41. 
Daniel Howe, 1843, 4. 
Alphonzo Brooks, 1845-8. 
Warren Patridge, 1849. 
Joseph A. Read, 1850-2, 60, 3. 
Phinehas E. Gregory, 1853-56, 66- 

70. 
D. H. Gregory, 1857, 8. 
John Brooks, 1859, 61, 5. 
George O. Skinner, 1862. 
Isaac F. Thompson, 1872-75. 
Moses C. Goodnow, 1876-1915. 
Herbert P. Houghton, 191 5. 



Moses Gill, 1780, 4-95. 
Asa Whitcomb, 1783. 
Ebenezer Parker, 1797, 8, i 
David Rice, 1801, 2, 13, 
John Dana, 1804, 5, 12. 
William Dodds, 1806, 8-1 1. 
Ephraim Mirick, Jr., 1823. 
Charles Russell, 1826-32. 
Joshua T. Everett, 1833, 5. 
Jonathan Whitney, 1834. 
John Brooks, 1835, 6, 57. 
John Whitney, 1836. 
Alphonzo Brooks, 1838. 
Sewall Mirick, 1839, 45, 55, 
Ebenezer Parker, 1840-2. 
Israel Everett, 1843, 44- 
Sewell G. Mirick, 1855. 



Representatives. 

Caleb S. Mirick, 1847. 
Henry Boyles, 1848. 
800. Ebenezer Smith, 1849. 

18, 21. Ephraim Beaman, 1850. 
Luther Crawford, 185 1. 
Charles A. Mirick, 1853. 
Solon S. Hastings, 1859. 
William B. Goodnow, 1865. 
P. A. Beaman, 1868. 
Asa H. Goddard, 1873. 
Frederick Parker, 1876. 
William H. Brown, 1879. 
John B. Fay, 1882. 
Moses C. Goodnow, 1890. 
Algernon T. Beaman, 1895. 
Ward N. Boylston, 1899. 
Harry C. Beaman, 191 2. 



Assessors. 



Zachariah Harvey, 1761. 

Abijah Moore, 1761. 

Peter Goodnow, 1761. 

Joseph Eveleth, 1762-4, 7. 

Boaz Moore, 1762, 3, 70-2, 87. 

Caleb Mirick, 1762. 

Samuel Woods, 1763, 4, 7, 70, 2, 3, 

5, 6, 8, 9, 83, 4. 
Thomas Mason, 1764-6, 8, 9, 71, 3, 

6-81, 5,6,94-9. 
Robert Cowden, 1765. 



William Muzzey, 1765, 6, 8, 9. 
Adonijah Howe, 1767. 
Ebenezer Jones, 1768. 
Joseph Sargent, 1769, 70. 
James Mirick, 1771. 
John Jones, 1772, 4, 5. 
Benjamin Holden, 1773. 
Enoch Brooks, 1774-8. 
William Richardson, 1774. 
William Dodds, 1777, 80-93, 
1809. 



5- 



Town Government 



193 



James Curtis, 1779, 80. 

Humphrey Moore, 1781, 8-90. 

Ephraim Hartwell, 1782. 

Ebenezer Parker, 1782-93, 96-1805. 

Michael Gill, 1791. 

David Rice, 1792, 3, 1806-9, 18, 

19. 
John Dana, 1794, 1802-9. 
Timothy Fuller, 1794-5. 
John Roper, 1800, i. 
John Moore, 1810, 11. 
Joseph Mason, 1810-13, 21-6, 30. 
Artemas How, 18 10-19. 
Jonas Hartwell, 1812-20. 
Samuel Stephenson, 1814-17. 
Moses Hobbs, 1820-3. 
Ephraim Mirick, 1820-6. 
Charles Mirick, 1824. 
Amos Meriam, 1825-9. 
Ephraim Mirick, 2d, 1827. 
John Whitney, 1827-9, 32-5, 7-9, 

44, 5. 
Jacob W. Watson, 1828-9. 
Moses G. Cheever, 1830, i, 6. 
Rufus Davis, 1830-2, 48, 50. 
Israel Everett, 1832, 3, 7-9, 44, 

SO. 
Harlow Skinner, 1833, 4. 
Joshua T. Everett, 1834, 5. 
Nathan Meriam, 1835. 
Hamilton Wilson, 1836-9. 
William S. Everett, 1836. 
John Brooks, 1840, i, 50. 
Joseph Meriam, 1840-3. 
Caleb Dana, 1840. 
Charles B. Temple, 1841-4. 
Joseph Hartwell, 1842, 3. 
Asa H. Goddard, 1845-7. 
Marshall Meriam, 1845. 
Caleb S. Mirick, 1846, 8. 
George O. Skinner, 1846, 7, 56, 7, 67, 

73- 
Ephraim Beaman, 1847. 
Phineas E. Gregory, 1848. 
Jonas Brooks, Jr., 1849. 
Frederick Parker, 1849, 51, 2. 
William D. Cheever, 1849, 51, 2. 
Henry Boyles, 1851. 
Joseph Whitcomb, 1852-4. 



Sewall G. Mirick, 1854-5. 

Sewall Richardson, 1854, 5, 70, 

I. 
John Bryant, 1855, 6. 
Ephraim Osgood, 1856-8. 
Benjamin Holden, 1857, 8. 
Paul M. Mirick, 1858, 9. 
Asa H. Goddard, 1859, 60. 
William B. Goodnow, 1859-61, 70, 

2, 6-8, 81, 3, 4, 7-9. 
Abijah G. Thompson, 1860-2. 
William H. Brown, 1862, 3. 
George F. Folger, 1863-5, 8. 
Albert C. Howe, 1863, 4, 75, 82. 
Nathan B. Reed, 1864. 
Addison Smith, 1865. 
Joseph Whitcomb, 1866, 71, 2. 
Frederick Parker, 1866, 7, 73, 4. 
WiUard Parker, 1866, 7. 
Leonard Chandler, 1868. 
William H. Brown, 1870. 
J. Z. Wetherbee, 187 1. 
Asa H. Goddard, 1872. 
John Vose, 1874. 
Charles H. Thompson, 1874, 9. 
John Brooks, 1875. 
George O. Skinner, 1873. 
J. Edwin Meriam, 1875. 
Otis Wood, 1875. 
Emory W. Gill, 1876, 81, 3. 
Oliver Osgood, 1876, 7, 9, 80, 89, 90, 

4, 8, 9, 1900-2, 4. 
Rufus Davis, Jr., 1877-9, 90-2, 7. 
Nathan B. Reed, 1880, i. 
Isaac F. Thompson, 1882, 6, 90, 

I. 
Phineas A. Beaman, 1882. 
Thomas H. Skinner, 1883-6, 95, 6, 

1901-15. 
Henry F. Sanborn, 1884-6. 
Charles H. Thompson, 1885, 87, 92, 

1904-7. 
Henry F. Keyes, 1887, 8. 
Wayland C. Davis, 1893, 4. 
Arthur E. Fay, 1893. 
Sewell Richardson, 1894-6, 9, 

1900. 
Frederick M. Baker, 1895, 6. 
Ward N. Boylston, 1897. 



194 



History of Princeton 



Herbert P. Houghton, 1897, 8. 
Elias O. Hastings, 1898. 
Joseph H. Hadley, 1899. 
Charles H. Houghton, 1900-3, 
H. P. Houghton, 1903, 8. 
Harry A. Mason, 1905. 



13- 



I. E. Pratt, 1906. 
Wendell A. Brooks, 1907-13. 
J. B. Marcou, 1909, 10. 
Eugene D. Roper, 1911-13-15. 
Charles F. Thompson, 1913. 
Joseph C. Harrington, 1913-15- 



Moderators, Annual Meeting. 



1761 
1762 

1763 
1764 

1765 
1766 
1767 
1768 
1769 
1770 
1771 
1772 

1773 
1774 

1775 

1776 

1777 

1778 

1779 

1780 

1781 

1782 

1783 

1784 

1785 

1786 

1787 

1788 

1789 

1790 

1791 

1792 

1793 

1794 

1795 

1796 

1797 

1798 

1799 

1800 

1 801 



Zachariah Harvey. 
Joseph Eveleth. 
James Mirick. 
Joseph Eveleth. 
Joseph Eveleth. 
Joseph Eveleth. 
Joseph Eveleth. 
Joseph Eveleth, 
Joseph Eveleth. 
Joseph Eveleth. 
Boaz Moore. 
Boaz Moore. 
Benjamin Holden. 
Ephraim Woolson. 
Ephraim Woolson. 
William Thomson. 
William Thomson. 
Ephraim Woolson. 
Ephraim Woolson. 
Ephraim Woolson. 
Sadey Mason. 
Benjamin Holden. 
Boaz Moore. 
Boaz Moore. 
Boaz Moore. 
Boaz Moore. 
Moses Gill. 
Moses Gill. 
Moses Gill. 
Moses Gill. 
Moses Gill. 
Boaz Moore. 
Boaz Moore. 
Moses Gill. 
Moses Gill. 
Ebenezcr Parker. 
Ebenezer Parker. 
Ebenezer Parker. 
Ebenezer Parker. 
Ebenezer Parker. 
Ebenezer Parker. 



1802 

1803 

1804 

1805 

1806 

1807 

1808 

1809 

1810 

1811 

1812 

1813 

1814 

1815 

1816 

1817 

1818 

1819 

1820 

1821 

1822 

1823 

1824 

1825 

1826 

1827 

1828 

1829 

1830 

1831 

1832 

1833 

1834 

1835 

1836 

1837 
1838 

1839 
1840 
1841 
1842 



John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
John Dana. 
Charles Mirick. 
Charles Mirick. 

Charles Mirick, 

Charles Mirick. 

Charles Mirick. 

Samuel Stratton, 

Charles Mirick. 

Charles Mirick. 

Charles Mirick. 

Charles Mirick. 

Charles Mirick. 

John Whitney, 

John Whitney. 

John Whitney. 

John Whitney, 

John Whitney, 

John Whitney, 

John Whitney. 

John Whitney. 

John Whitney. 

Moses G. Cheever. 

John Whitney. 

John Whitney, 

John Whitney. 

John Whitney. 

John Brooks. 

John Whitney. 



Town Government 



195 



1843 Moses G. Cheever. 

1844 John Whitney. 

1845 John Whitney. 

1846 Dr. Alphonzo Brooks. 

1847 John Brooks. 

1848 John Brooks. 

1849 Moses G. Cheever. 

1850 Solon S. Hastings. 

1851 Solon S. Hastings. 

1852 Henry Boyles. 

1853 Henry Boyles. 

1854 Solon S. Hastings. 

1855 Solon S. Hastings. 

1856 Joshua T. Everett. 

1857 Joshua T. Everett. 

1858 Asa H. Goddard. 

1859 Asa H. Goddard. 
i860 Solon S. Hastings. 

1861 Dr. Alphonzo Brooks. 

1862 William B. Goodnow. 

1863 Henry Boyles. 

1863 William B. Goodnow. 

1864 William B. Goodnow. 

1865 A. C. Howe. 

1866 Alphonso Brooks. 

1867 William B. Goodnow. 

1868 A. C. Howe. 

1869 A. C. Howe. 

1870 A. C. Howe. 

1871 A. C. Howe. 



1872 William B. Goodnow. 

1873 A. C. Howe. 

1874 A. C. Howe. 

1875 William H. Brown. 

1876 William H. Brown. 

1877 William H. Brown. 

1878 William H. Brown. 

1879 Albert C. Howe. 

1880 Albert C. Howe. 

1881 Albert C. Howe. 

1882 Albert C. Howe. 

1883 William B. Goodnow. 

1884 W^illiam B. Goodnow. 

1885 Henry F. Sanborn. 

1886 Albert C. Howe. 

1887 William B. Goodnow. 

1888 William B. Goodnow. 

1889 William B. Goodnow. 

1890 Moses Bullard. 

1 89 1 William B. Goodnow. 

1892 Wayland C. Davis. 

1893 Wayland C. Davis. 

1894 J. Charles F. Mirick. 

1895 Wayland C. Davis. 

1896 Wayland C. Davis. 

1897 Wayland C. Davis. 

1898 Wayland C. Davis. 

1899 Wayland C. Davis. 

1900 Wayland C. Davis. 

1901 to 1915 J. C. F. Mirick. 



Constables. 



1 761 Caleb Mirick, Sadey Mason. 

1762 Joseph Gibbs, Samuel Nichols. 

1763 Oliver Davis, Peter Goodnow. 

1764 William Mason, Aaron Perry. 

1765 James Myrick, Benjamin Holden. 

1766 Benjamin Taynter, Stephen Brigham. 

1767 Ebenezer Jones, William Muzzy. 

1768 Joseph Eveleth, Joseph Sergent. 

1769 Joseph Eveleth, Thomas Mason. 

1770 Joseph Eveleth, Robert Cowden. 

1 77 1 Elisha Gale, Robert Cowden. 

1772 Elisha Gale, Joseph Haynes. 

1773 EHsha Hobbs, Joseph Haynes. 

1774 Enoch Brooks, Cyprian Keyes. 

1775 Abner Howe, Samuel Wood. 

1776 Samuel Mosman, Samuel Wood. 



196 History of Princeton 

777 Stephen Harrington, Ephraim Hartwell. 

778 Phineas Gregory, John Barker. 

779 Ebenezer Parker, Isaac Thompson. 

780 Stephen Harrington, Seth Savage. 

781 George Parkhurst, Daniel Sumner, Elisha Allen, William Richardson. 

782 EHsha Gale, Josiah Mirick. 

783 Adonijah How, EHsha Alien. 

784 Wilham Dodds, Joseph Haynes. 

785 Caleb Mirick, Norman Clarke. 

786 Jonathan Keyes, Jacob Moore. 

787 Elisha Allen, Isaac Hartwell. 

788 Jonas Beaman, Edward Goodnow. 

789 Thomas Gleason, Silas Fay. 

790 William Dodds, Jonas Smith. 

791 Uriah Newton, Joseph Tuttle. 

792 Solomon Keyes, William Dodds. 

793 Andrew Whitney, Joseph Tillton. 

794 Uriah Moore, Samuel Hastings. 

795 Uriah Moore, Samuel Hastings. 

796 Solomon Davis, Rufus Dodds. 

797 Joseph Tuttle, Solomon Davis. 

798 Joseph Tuttle, Charies Mirick. 

799 Elisha Hobbs, Jr., Charles Mirick. 

800 Quincy Parker, Thomas Jones. 

801 Samuel Hastings, Jr., Jonas Brooks. 

802 Joseph Sargent, Charles Mirick. 

803 Joseph Sargent, Charles Mirick. 

804 Joseph Sargent, Nahum Wilder. 

805 Joseph Sargent, Nahum Wilder. 

806 Joseph Sargent. Nahum Wilder. 

807 Joseph Sargent, Charles Mirick. 

808 Joseph Sargent, Charles Mirick. 

809 Samuel Hastings, Jr., Charles Mirick. 

810 Jacob W. Watson, Samuel Hastings, Jr. 

811 Jacob W. Watson, Charles Mirick. 

812 John Dodds, Nahum Wilder. 

813 Josiah Cutting, Quincy Parker. 

814 Jacob W. Watson, Samuel Richardson. 

815 Samuel Richardson, Jacob W. Watson. 

816 Moses Gill, Jacob W Watson. 

817 Moses Gill, John L. Boylston. 

818 Moses Gill, Reuben Brooks. 

819 Moses Gill, John G. Davis. 

820 Moses Gill, John G. Davis. 

821 Moses Gill, Caleb Dana. 

822 Moses Gill, Caleb Dana. 

823 Joseph A. Reed, Caleb Dana. 

824 Joseph A. Reed, Caleb Dana. 

825 Joseph A. Reed, Austin Davis. 



Town Government 197 

1826 John Whitney, Austin Davis. 

1827 John Whitney, Moses G. Cheever. 

1828 John Whitney, Moses G. Cheever. 

1829 John Whitney, Moses G. Cheever. 

1830 John Whitney, Moses G. Cheever. 

1 83 1 John Whitney, John Brooks. 

1832 John Whitney, John Brooks. 

1833 John Whitney, Caleb Dana. 

1834 John Whitney, Jacob W. Watson. 

1835 John Whitney, Jacob W. Watson. 

1836 Jacob W. Watson, John Whitney. 

1837 Harlow Skinner, Francis H. Smith. 

1838 Harlow Skinner, Francis H. Smith. 

1839 Harlow Skinner, Francis H. Smith. 

1840 Harlow Skinner, Francis H. Smith. 

1841 Harlow Skinner, Francis H. Smith. 

1842 Harlow Skinner, Francis H. Smith. 

1843 Marshall Meriam, William W. Watson. 

1844 Harlow Skinner, Ivory Wilder. 

1845 Harlow Skinner, Francis H. Smith. 

1846 George F. Folger, Charles P. Skinner. 

1847 George F. Folger, Charles P. Skinner. 

1848 George F. Folger, William D. Cheever. 

1849 William D. Cheever, George O. Skinner. 

1850 Francis H. Smith, George O. Skinner. 

185 1 George O. Skinner, William D. Cheever, Joseph M. Stewart. 

1852 Clark Meriam, Micah R. Ball, Mark Wilder. 

1853 Soloman G. Burpee, Harlow Skinner. 

1854 Solomon J. Burpee, B. Fay. 

1855 Phinehas E. Gregory, Solomon J. Burpee. 

1856 George E, Pratt, Phinehas E. Gregory. 

1857 John Brooks, Jr., Nathan B. Howe. 

1858 Nicholas R. Howe, Isaac F. Thompson. 

1859 Oscar Howe, Nicholas R. Howe. 
i860 Harlow Skinner, Nicholas R. Howe. 

1861 Harlow Skinner, Jonas B. Brown. 

1862 Harlow Skinner, Asa H. Goddard. 

1863 Asa H. Goddard, Amos H. Keyes. 

1864 Charles P. Skinner, Joseph Whitcomb. 

1865 Abijah G. Thompson, George F. Folger, Addison Smith. 

1866 WilHam F. Ball, Abner G. Parker. 

1867 Harlow Skinner, Abner G. Parker. 

1868 Harlow Skinner, Abner G. Parker. 

1869 Harlow Skinner, J. Anson Whitcomb. 

1870 Harlow Skinner, William B. Goodnow. 

187 1 William B. Goodnow, Harlow Skinner. 

1872 William B. Goodnow, Harlow Skinner. 

1873 Harlow Skinner, D. Frank Smith. 

1874 Harlow Skinner, David F. Smith. 



198 History of Princeton 

187s Emory W. Gill, WiUiam F. Ball. 

1876 Harlow Skinner, Mark Wilder. 

1877 Harlow Skinner, Samuel Hobbs. 

1878 Harlow Skinner, Samuel Hobbs. 

1879 George O. Skinner, George L. Bliss. 

1880 George O. Skinner, William B. Goodnow. 

1881 George O. Skinner, John Brooks. 

1882 George O. Skinner, John Brooks. 

1883 George O. Skinner, P. C. Doolittle. 

1884 George 0. Skinner, P. C. Doolittle. 

1885 George O. Skinner, P. C. Doolittle. 

1886 George O. Skinner, Samuel J. Jewett. 

1887 George O. Skinner, Eugene R. Buck. 

1888 Eugene R. Buck, John E. Maley. 

1889 John E. Maley, Artemas E. Pratt. 

1890 Emory W. Gill, Artemas E. Pratt. 

1891 Emory W. Gill. Eugene R. Buck. 

1892 Emory W. GUI, Eugene R. Buck. 

1893 Eugene R. Buck, Atwood B. Keyes, Thomas H. Skinner. 

1894 John E. Maley, Levi Cushman, Thomas H. Skinner. 

1895 John E. Maley, Levi Cushman, Thomas H. Skinner. 

1896 Levi Cushman, Thomas H. Skinner, John E. Maley. 

1897 Levi Cushman, Artemas A. Pratt, Charles A. Houghton. 

1898 Levi Cushman, Eugene R. Buck, Thomas H. Skinner. 

1899 Thomas H. Skinner, Eugene R. Buck, Frank B. Smith, Alex. St. 
George, Henry F. Keyes. 

1900 Thomas H. Skinner, Eugene R. Buck, S. J. Jewett, Ale.x. St. George, 
C. A. Blanchard. 

1901 W. B. Hubbard, E. R. Buck, G. A. Bigelow, F. L. Tuttle, Alex. 
St. George. 

1902 W. B. Hubbard, E. R. Buck, G. A. Bigelow, F. L. Tuttle, Alex. 
St. George. 

1903 E. R. Buck, F. L. Tuttle, G. A. Bigelow. 

1904 J. H. Stimpson, G. A. Bigelow, T. H. Skinner. 

1905 J. H. Stimson, T. H. Skinner. 

1906 J. H. Stimson, T. H. Skinner. 

1907 J. H. Stimson, T. H. Skinner. 

1908 J. H. Stimson, T. H. Skinner. 

1909 J. H. Stimson, T. H. Skinner. 

1910 T. H. Skinner, Harry E. Murdock, D. A. Peeler, Fred R. Stevens. 

191 1 T. H. Skinner, Fred R. Stevens, Prentice C. Doolittle, Albert J. 
Eveleth. 

191 2 T. H. Skinner, Fred R. Stevens, Prentice C. DooHttle, Albert J. 
Eveleth. 

1913 T. H. Skinner, Fred R. Stevens, Prentice C. DooHttle, Fred R. Aldrich. 

1914 T. H. Skinner, Fred R. Stevens, Prentice C. DooHttle. 

1915 Prentice C. Doolittle, Fred R. Stevens, T. H. Skinner, Clifton 
Guy. 

The last Town Meeting held in Princeton Feb. i, 1915, was the 880th 



Town Government 1 99 

recorded meeting of the town including the meetings of the District of 
Prince Town. 

Of those who served as Moderator at the Annual Town Meetings: John 
Whitney served for 16 years, John Dana 14. William Dodds served as 
Town Clerk for 31 years, Charles Russell for 26 years, David H. Gregory 
for 34 years. 



CHAPTER IX 
EDUCATION 

Requirement. By the laws of the Colony and later of 
the Province of Massachusetts, the towns and districts 
were required to provide means for public instruction of 
the children. It was not often that a failure to make such 
provision was recorded, but occasionally the penalties for 
non-compliance with the law in not securing a schoolmaster 
were enforced. 

But New England communities were generally made up 
of too intelligent a class of people to forego the advantages 
of educational facilities, if possible to be secured and 
ordinarily this subject was among the first, if not the very 
first to receive attention in connection with that other 
always recognized need, the settlement of a minister. 
Princeton at the date of its incorporation, with its thirty 
families scattered from the borders of Holden to Hubbards- 
ton and from Rutland to " No-town," had a more difficult 
problem to solve in providing for schools than in the 
ministerial question. 

Its support of a stated ministry was a financial burden, 
and in the apparent need of great expenditures for opening 
up roads and getting the machinery of the town into running 
order, it seemingly could ill afford to expend money for any 
undertaking not positively demanded. If there was any 
delay in the matter of provision for schools, it may have 
been excusable, but the necessity was soon recognized and 
the preliminary steps taken. 

First Schoolmaster. There is no evidence of the estab- 
lishment of a school in the district before 1764 when an 
appropriation of £6 was made for that object. To Mr. 
Samuel Woods has always, and doubtless with justice, 
been accorded the honor of being the first public school 
teacher in the town, but as he did not settle in Princeton 



Education 201 

until 1762, it is quite safe to conclude that no public 
instruction was given in town until 1763 or 1764. It is 
quite probable, however, that he may have had some 
private pupils at his own house before the town made the 
appropriation of £6. With this small sum of money, the 
terms of schooling must have been limited to a few weeks, 
and the remuneration of the teachers anything but munifi- 
cent. But the rapidly increasing population demanded 
greater attention to the education of the children, and in 
1766, the appropriation was more than doubled, £13-6-8 
and in 1768 it was increased to £20. 

The method of distributing this appropriation may be 
seen by the following warrant which is especially interest- 
ing as being the oldest paper among the town files. It is a 
school warrant to the tax payers of the northerly squadron 
in 1766. 

" To Robert Keyes Jonas Harington 

Tille Lytteljohns Timothy Ruggles 

Will™. Gibbs Timothy Mostmon 

Abel Raye Jonas Keyes 
Timot^ Mostmon Jun. John Frost 

Samuel Mostmon Abihal Bush 

EHsha Wilder Jonathan Powers 

Edward Willson Timothy Billings 
Benj" Willson 

You are hereby ordered to procure a School master to 
the approbation of the Selectmen & to Improve to the use 
of Schooling what you are assessed in the School Rates & 
when you have so done you may have orders to draw the 
same out of the treasurry. 

Prince town, January 13 y^ 1766, the sum total of your 
School Rates 2-17-7-2. 

Peter Goodenow 

Sadey Mason I ^ , ,, 

wTw ^u I Selectmen. 

William 1 homson 

Stephen Brigham J 



202 History of Princeton 

Of the seventeen persons above named, perhaps eight or 
ten only represented famiUes embracing twenty children 
(the remainder being single men or non-residents) and the 
whole amount alloted to this district was the equivalent 
of less than $io. 

Districts. At this date there were probably five dis- 
tricts or squadrons, the North, East, Centre, West and South, 
among which the whole appropriation was equitably 
divided to be " Seasonable schoold out by some Person 
suitably qualified." 

But within three years, a radical change in the districts 
became necessary as a result of the continued increase in 
the number of the families, as well as of the children able to 
attend school, and a committee was appointed in district 
meeting to rearrange the bounds of the school districts. 

The report of the committee, which was adopted, pro- 
viding for six " Squadrons " among which all the families 
were distributed, included: 

Middle District 

Moses Gill Joseph Eveleth Jr. 

Ephraim Woolson George Parkhurst 

William Foster Jonathan Bullard (cornet) 

Samuel Woods Abner How 

Amos Powers Ebenezer Jones 

Elisha Gale Peter Goodnow 

Paul Matthews Jabez Stratton 

Joel Rice Isaac Stratton 

Samuel Hastings Joseph Haynes 

Joseph Norcross John Gleason 

Joseph Sargent Timothy Fuller 

James Mirick Josiah Mirick 

Isaac Jones Caleb Mirick 

Joseph Wooley John Mirick 

William Gibbs Meriam & Minots (pasture) 

John Barker Adonijah How 

Job Brooks John Jones (pasture) 

Enoch Brooks Thaddeus Bowman 
Josiah Wetherbee 



Education 



203 



Southerly District 



1769 

Ephraim Hartwell 

Jacob Morse 

Samuel Bailey 

William Muzzy 

Jonathan Smith 

Asa Harris 

George Smith (pasture) 

Joseph Gibbs 

Aaron Brooks 

Sadey Mason 



Eager 
Eliphalet How 
William Raymond 
Thomas Mason 
Matthew Farrow 
Benjamin Holden 
Jonathan Smith 
Charles Brooks 

Conant 
Richard Cheever 



Lieut. Robert Forbes (pasture) 

Easterly District 



1769 

Silas Houghton 
Joseph Abbot 
Warren Snow 
Oliver Dresser 
Allen 

Westerly 

Hartwell (Corn') 
William Thompson 
Boaz Moore 
Humphrey Moore 
Robert Rosier 
Abraham Savage 
Nathan Smith 
Robert Cowdin 
Timothy Keyes 



Charles Wyman 
Isaac Abbot 
Ichabod Standley 
Col. Elisha Jones 
Joseph Phelps 

District 

Silas Plympton 
William Skinner 
Seth Savage 
David Parker 
Oliver Davis 
Joseph Eveleth 
Morse 
Uriah Newton 
John Jones 



Northwesterly District 

Isaac Thompson Ebenezer Colburn 

Stephen Brigham Aaron Perry 

David Everett Antipas How 



204 



History of Princeton 



Harwood 
Noah Norcross 
Philip Boyns 
Rev. Davis (pasture) 



John Bartlett 
Stephen Rolph 
Daniel Sumner 
Isaac Norcross 



Northeasterly District 



Jonathan Powers 
Tille Littlejohn 
Ephraim Osgood 
John Frost 
James Robinson 
Phineas Beaman 
Abijah Harrington 
Phineas Gregory 
Timothy BiUings 
Samuel Mosman 
Joel Houghton 



Benjamin Wilson 
Timothy Mosman 
Jonas Harrington 
Elisha Hobbs 
Robert Keyes 
Elisha Wilder 
John Bowen 
Withern Edgel 
William Mosman 
Stephen Harrington 
Elisha Gregory 



This list includes not only the residents, but all the 
owners of land at that date, each being required to pay his 
proportion of the school tax. Many of these proprietors 
never lived in town and very likely some never stepped foot 
within its borders. There were probably at this date not 
more than seventy-five or eighty families in the town. 

A similar warrant of date Jan. 9, 1768 was issued to, — 



Robert Cowdin 
Boaz Moore 
Seth Savage 
Oliver Davis 
Humphrey Moore 
Charles Parmenter 
Timothy Keyes 
David Parker 
Abraham Savage 

And another to, — 
Moses Baxter 
Charles Brooks 



Joseph Eveleth 
John Jones 
Soloman Parker 
Ephraim Hartwell 
William Skinner 
William Thomson 
Robert Rozer 
Antony Clark 



Paul Eager 
Robert Furbush 



Education 205 

Jonathan Fisk William Muzzy 

Nathan Farrar Sadey Mason 

Joseph Gibbs Thomas Mason 
Widow Mary Graham David Osgood 

Eliphalet How Belcher Richards 

Benjamin Holden Joseph ( ) 

Ezekiel How George (Smith ?) 

Ephraim Hubbard Jonathan (Bullard ?) 

There were probably two other districts at that period 
making five in all. 

The Schools were at first accommodated as they best 
could be in private houses conveniently located for the 
children of each district. The center school of which Mr. 
Woods had the charge, was held in his own house, ^ where 
Mr. Nahum Wilder lived many years, near the corner of 
the present depot road and Calamint hill road. But even 
after the erection of school houses, we find occasional 
reference to schools being taught in private dwellings, as 
for instance, Samuel Davis', Thomas Mason's, Elisha 
Allen's, Silas Keyes', and Thomas Ramer's. 

1797 School House in B. Moore's district be moved to 
spot already established by town (leased ?). 

1798 School House in North district cost £75 ($250. so 
stated) (see town action). 

1796 Feb. 15, petition to move house in Westerly plot 
to centre of plot by B. Moore, O. Davis, U. Newton, Asa 
Rice, J. Savage, Simon Davis. 

In January, 1771, a vote was passed in district meeting 
giving liberty to each squadron to build its own school 
house, but upon reflection, this did not appear to meet the 
necessities of the case or comport with the dignity of the 
town, and in March following, it was " Voted that a School 
House be Built in Each Squadron of ye Town at ye Town 
Cost, & that a School House be Built in ye Middle Squadron 
twenty feet Square, & that one Hundred Dollars be 
allow'd for ye Building the same s'^ Money to be raised in 

^ Now standing. 



2o6 History of Princeton 

ye Middle Squadron, & ye other Squadrons to be assessed 
by ye Same proportion, for ye Building ye other School 
Houses," &c. 

Centre District. On account of disagreement as to the 
best method of building or of assessing the expense, the 
plans were somewhat changed and the work delayed so 
that the majority of the houses were not completed until 
1774. That in the centre district erected near the meeting- 
house, cost £33-6-8 or about $110 in our present currency. 
This building was burned in 1788 or 1789 and a new one 
erected before 1792 by " private munificence " Mr. Russell 
suggests. The size of this latter house was about 36 by 
36 feet with a porch of about 10 by 12 feet. Town meetings 
were held in this building until 1842. 

A new school house for this district having been erected 
on another spot in 1810 or 1811, the old building was not 
needed for that purpose and in 1816, the town voted to call 
it the Town House. Whether from the proverbial abuse 
by the average scholars, the poor construction or the effect 
of the climate, the building did not last many years. 

School Houses. In 1794, the construction of new houses 
for each District was contemplated but they were not built 
until 1797 or 1798, at which time quite a number were 
erected. In some cases, the necessary land was given to 
the town by some public spirited citizen. A rough sketch 
of the interior arrangement of one of these buildings pre- 
served among the town papers will be of interest. It 
represents the school house of the northerly district school 
which stood at the easterly side of the Westminster road 
a little beyond the farm occupied many years by Israel 
Everett and now known as the Miller place. Its cost was 
about $250.1 

Stoves. 1798 Town voted to allow a stove for north 
district on certain conditions but in 1807 it refused to 

1 In showing this plan to one of the old residents who in his boyhood days 
passed many hours in the school, he quickly pointed to one corner of the plat- 
form and with brightened eye and a smile recalled the fact that from a hole 
in that spot, he once saw a mouse run out; a trifle indeed, but it had fixed 
itself upon his memory for nearly seventy years (see plan opposite page 215). 



Education 207 

buy for other districts. In 1823 stoves were ordered for 
all districts not provided, which shows that the stove had 
been gradually making itself felt. 

The stoves were first a box stove and afterwards an open 
stove each placed in centre of room. An open stove was 
like a fireplace made of iron similar to the Franklin open 
stoves only much larger. 

The committee of one district were given " Liberty to 
set up a Stove in the School House instead of a Chimn-ey 
provided the expense to the town does not exceed the 
Cost of a Chimney in Mr. Parker's School House." We 
do not learn whether a stove was then purchased, but in 
1820 there was one there of sufficient size to receive a 
four foot stick of wood. 

As late as 1807, the town refused to purchase stoves for 
several of the school buildings but their utility gradually 
gained the day until 1823 when all the districts not pre- 
viously provided with them, were supplied. 

In 1799, the districts were numbered, the northerly 
becoming number 07ie, northeasterly two, easterly three, 
southerly four, southwesterly five, westerly six, and north- 
westerly seven. 

Centre District Divided. Probably the greatest of site 
changes in the districts was that made in 18 10 when the 
centre district was divided into two, and one house erected 
on the road from Dr. Wilson's to Rev. Mr. Murdock's near 
the Methodist meeting house (for many years occupied 
by Miss Sally Keyes) and the second near Mr. Mirick's 
on the " Hastings " road. 

Necessarily, changes have been frequently made in the 
bounds of the districts. In 1838, there were ten districts 
with 223 houses in them, and in that year, several brick 
houses were erected, of these one or two only remain 
standing, one of these being in No. 2. 

Care. The care of the schools and the engagement of 
teachers were entrusted for some years to one person 
selected by the inhabitants of each district, but this 
method was afterwards modified by having a " committee 



2o8 History of Princeton 

man " appointed by the town for each district. The 
several districts were for many years described by the name 
of the committee or of some prominent man in them, thus 
the south was known as Holden's, the north as Keyes's, 
the west as Deacon Keyes's, the northwest as Brigham's 
and the east as Phelps's. 

Instructions. In 1797, special instructions more closely 
defining the duties of the position were given to each of the 
committee that they might not go astray. The following 
is a copy. 

" Mr. Pebody How, Sir, at a legal Meeting of the In- 
habitants of Princeton upon the 3d. day of April, 1797, 
You was appointed a Committee man to provide a School 
for the present year, to procure a School Master qualified 
as the Law directs for such term as the proportion of money 
will admit — and shall purchase upon such the best Terms 
you can a Sufficient supply of wood for the School, and 
shall cause the School house to be opened, seasonably giving 
Notice thereof to the district and at the opening of said 
School with the Selectmen & the revd Mr. Russell shall 
visit it and enquire into the regulations and Management 
thereof and before the same School shall be ended shall 
cause an open examination to take place under the Inspec- 
tion of said Selectmen & the Revd. Mr. Russell who are 
to be notified & requested by you to attend. 

The proportion of Money the present year is £i3-8-6|. 
Attest William Dodd Town Clerk." 

Expenses. The original document bears the endorse- 
ment of Mr. How showing that Alexander Dwelly taught 
school for ten weeks at an expense of $27.50 for wages and 
$11.67 for board, leaving a balance of the appropriation of 
$5.58. The whole sum appointed by the town for schools 
that year was about $400. In 1804, no school master could 
be employed unless recommended by the selectmen of the 
town to which he belonged and approved by Rev. Mr. 
Murdock, thus practically making the minister the chair- 
man of the school committee. 



Education 209 

These methods of superintending the schools were con- 
tinued until 1826 when a committee from the whole 
town was chosen in accordance with an Act of the Legis- 
lature. 

Distinguishing Terms. There were changes in the meth- 
ods of teaching and the general character of the schools as 
the years went by. At the first, only the simpler forms 
of study received attention, but very soon higher grades 
of instruction were demanded, so that we find before 1785 
a woman's school and a mans school provided for in each 
district, to the former one-fourth of the appropriation would 
be devoted and three-fourths to the latter, which came to 
be designated as a writing or reading school, or occasionally 
as " arithmetic school." This was before the day when it 
was thought competent for a woman to teach the higher 
courses of study. It appeared necessary and proper to 
have a man to manage the winter schools when all the hig 
boys would be sure to attend and not infrequently make 
trouble. We find a record of complaint by one of the heads 
of families in the northerly district in 1794, because no 
reading and writing school had been provided, although a 
woman's school had been taught. The teachers and the 
committee of the old days did not escape the criticisms, 
suggestions and interference and the many perplexing 
questions that have in later days annoyed their successors. 
How familiar this example will be to many of the school 
teachers. 

Mr. Dodds Sir. I do not mean to say what is best in 
your school, but I wish my boy taught the key and Punctua- 
tion before I purchase a third part for him and it may not 
be amiss for the rest of his Class to study the same, to 
prevent his being alone, so I remain 

Yours Cyrus Cook. 
(1807) 

Teachers. The files of the town papers disclose the 
names of a large proportion of the school teachers from 



210 History of Princeton 

1780 to 1800. Many of these names are familiar as 
members of the families of the town, some occurring quite 
frequently while others appear only occasionally; but the 
Masons, the Everetts, the Miricks, the Brooks, the Davises 
and many others are well represented. The young girls 
just coming into womanhood and less frequently the boys 
emerging into manhood were installed in the responsible 
position of teaching as they have been in the later years 
of our history with the difference that the former never 
had the advantages of education beyond their own dis- 
trict schools. Here too, we see the names of wives and 
mothers, widows and elderly maidens and occasionally 
the autograph of some young man clearly indicates 
that he had served the town as teacher of a writing 
school. 

And we find, too, the names of men prominent in later life 
in various spheres of usefulness. Here Robert B. Thomas 
exercised his executive ability and gave scope to his intellect 
as a teacher, long before he thought of issuing " The Old 
Farmer's Almanac," which years after made its way into 
every farmer's kitchen there to bewilder by its wonderful 
prognostications of the weather. And here, too, Leonard 
Woods afterwards the renowned Doctor of Divinity spent 
at least one vacation before his graduation at Harvard in 
teaching a district school, for the modest remuneration of 
about three dollars a week. Others well known appear on 
the list, but whether it was Polly Cowdin or Molly Rolph 
or Mistress Rand, the dignified young Doctor Eldredge or 
the divinity student John Rolph, these names stand out 
today with interest and pleasure. 

To the teachers of the later days, all honor is due, but to 
the earlier ones, there attaches a peculiar interest. 

Boarding of Teachers. Coupled with these names upon 
the records, there are suggestions of the houses where the 
teachers during the school terms were boarded. There 
is no evidence of the method in vogue in some towns of 
" boarding around " a week here and a week there, but the 
teacher was accommodated for the term generally by one 



Education 211 

family, and the town paid the bill which was always 
presented in good time. At one time, the questionable 
plan was adopted of letting out the boarding of teachers 
and supplying of wood to the lowest bidder, a proceed- 
ing not always calculated to enhance the comfort of 
the teacher. One instance is related of a teacher being 
boarded for seventy-five cents a week which included his 
washing. 

Rev. Timothy Fuller while teaching the centre school in 
1789 or inspecting it as he designated it, was paid one 
shilling nine pence or thirty cents a day and his dinners 
which John Gleason was glad to furnish at the rate of 
six pence each. 

English and Classical Schools. In 1828, John Brooks 
Esq., fitted up a building near the present Wachusett 
House for the use of the town for an English and Classical 
School. He also purchased a valuable philosophical ap- 
paratus and agreed to contribute for three years the sum of 
$300 annually for the salary of the instructor. This school 
was maintained for several years with gratifying prosperity. 

Miscellaneous Facts and Figures 

Number of Residents 

Dec. 1769 Middle 36 

Southerly 20 

Easterly 10 

Westerly 18 

No. Westerly 14 

No. Easterly 21 

119 residents 
1775 Squadrons and Appropriations 

Centre 8.16. 7.3 

Holden 3. 12. 10.3 

R. Keyes 3.18. 6 

Dea. Keyes 4. i. 9 

Brigham 2. 12. 10. i 

Phelps 1. 17. 4.1 



1775 Tilly Littlejohn, E. Hobbs, and A. Harrington for building a School 
House in their Squadron 15. II. 2.1. 



212 



History of Princeton 



Expenses 

1777 Centre 9- 10.9 

Lt. Chas. Brooks 3. 18. 1.2 

Joseph Phelps 1. 13. 1. 3 

S. Brigham 2. 10.9 

Dea. T. Keyes 3.16.8.2 

Abijah Harrington 3.10.6.2 



25 (some error in these 
figures) 



1785 School kept in 

1786 

1786 " " " 

1786 

1797 ' 



S. Davis' house 
T. Mason's house 
E. Allen's house 
Silas Keyes' house 
T. Ramer's house 



1789 Dodd's (Northerly) North 

Parker's East 

Watson's (Middle) Centre 

Baxter's West 

Brigham's N. W. 

Holden's South 



1790-1 Rev. John Rolph a teacher. 
1793 Leonard Woods kept school 525 weeks at 3.14. 
father. 

SCHOOLS 



.5.1.3. Paid his 



Districts 


1798-9 


1799 


1801 


I 




John Watson. 
St. Mirick. 
E. Raymore. 
S. Dadman. 
S. Stratton. 
Silas Fay. 
Josiah Davis. 
Antipas How. 




2 

3 
4 
5 
6 

7 
8 


Jonas Beaman. 

E. Keyes & E. Raymore. 

Jonas Smith. 

John Parker. 

C. Kilbum. 

U. Newton. 

Abner Brigham. 


A. Meriam. 
John Keyes. 
A. Whitney. 
L Keyes. 
D. Hoyt. 
Seth Savage, Jr. 







1797 A. Merriam of Middle & Saml. Richardson, Widow Allen of Mr. 

How's annexed to A. Harrington's district, and school house ordered to 

be built in A. H.'s district on land given by him. Westerly by road to 

Westminster, Northerly by Jonas Beaman. 
James Brown and Jessie Brown from Ebenezer Parker's district to How's 

and a house to be built on land of Mr. Ramer, 15 rods S. E. of brook on 

road between Ramer's house and How's mill. 
School house in Parker's on same spot as old, he to give land. 







Education 


213 






SCHOOLS 






1799 Ordered North to be No. i N. E. to be No. 2 






East 3 South 


4 






S. West 5 West 


6 






N. West 7 




Districts 


1802 


1803 


1804 


1805 


I 


H. Prentice. 
P. Gregory. 


C. Mirick, Jr. 

J. Mirick 

Jas. Brown. 
L. Chittenden. 
Sam. Cobb. 
S. Mason. 
N. Clark. 
Luke Baker. 


B. Cheever. 
B. Harrington 
Jesse Brown. 
Jonas Smith. 
J. P. Davis. 




2 


Wm. Dodd. 
John Powers. 
A. Whitney. 


4 




5 


Joseph Baker. 
0. Davis lived) 


6 


B. Holden, Jr 
W Gibbs 


7 


L Symonds. 
L Thompson. 


8 


Ich. Fisher. 









District 6, i. Hartwell, 1806 
School House in road from Capt. Hastings to Meeting House. 



North 



N. Perry 
Joel Read 

Wm. Barnes 

C. Gregory 

Widow Deb. Meriam 



A. Perry 
John Hobbs 

B. Harrington 
Widow Eveleth 

C. Mirick 
S. Fay, Jr. 
E. Mirick 
M. Gill 

Sam. Stevenson 



T. Gleason E. Gleason 

Mary Moore (widow) 
Wm. Smith J. Dana 

Wm. Richardson H. Bragg 
J. Watson J. Gill 



E. Brooks 
Amos Sargent 

Adon. How 

S. Hastings & Jr. 



E. Mirick 2d 
J. Sargent 
Art. How 
Ab. How 



South 

Josh. Eveleth 
N. Wilder 
Wm. Gibbs 
H. Prentice 
N. Reed 



Wid. Goodnow Edw. Goodnow 
Wid. Woods B. Cheever 
R. Parmenter J. Murdock 
Mich. Gill D. Brooks 
White E. Wilson 



Town Books have School Districts. 18 10. 

1806-7 Singing Schools Aaron Gates teacher $25. 

1807 Voted not to try stoves for certain districts 

1 8 10 Voted to divide Centre School district and build two houses, one on 

road from Dr. Wilson's to Murdock's at angle of road, and one 

on road from Hasting's to Meeting House where it intersects the 

County road, and one near Centre of No. 8. 
l8n No. 2 School House was 323 rods from John Mirick's and Committee 

thought it best to have it at corner of road northerly of Widow 

Beaman's leading to Mrs. Mildred Rand's. 
i8i2 No. 8 School House built on same spot as old one. 



214 History of Princeton 

1816 Voted Aug. 26th to call Centre School town house. 

1823 Voted to buy open stoves for school districts not provided. 

1827 School Committee named. 
1832 New School districts. 

1836 New School House No. I on easterly part of Blake's and Cobb's land, 

of Brick. 
No. 4 Built. No. 5 in 1837 of brick. 
Brick School house not far from Brook's Station 1889 is No. 5. 

1828 John Brooks fitted up for the "Classical School"* "his old store 

building and it was moved up just this side of Mr. Howard's." 
"Was used three years, then sold to Thomas Gill and made 
over into a barn, and is now a part of R. Davis' barn." 

Schools 
1838 Dec. . 

District No. i 31 Houses 6 18 Houses 

2 16 Houses 7 23 Houses 

3 18 Houses 8 21 Houses 

4 23 Houses 9 28 Houses 

5 29 Houses ID 16 Houses 223 Houses 

* " Laticaster Gazette" Ad July 6, 182Q 

NOTICE 

Princeton English and Classical School 

Will be opened on the first Monday in September next. WARREN GOD- 
DARD Esq of Boston a graduate of Harvard University formerly Preceptor 
of Sandwich Academy and who sustains a high reputation as a gentleman, 
scholar and instructor, will take the charge of the school. 

A convenient building is provided for the present, with the expectation that, 
in a few years, a handsome and permanent one will be erected. The situation 
is peculiarly pleasant and healthy and being retired, is free from the tempta- 
tions to vice and irregularity to which youth are exposed in more popular 
places. 

A Stage from Boston to Albany passes through the town three times a week, 
and from Keene, N. H. to Providence, R. I. once a week. Gentlemen in 
Boston and other larger Towns will find it an eligible situation for their sons. 

Mr Goddard will board, instruct and superintend the private studies and the 
moral conduct of scholars for $33 per quarter. Board in respectable families 
from $1.33 to $2 per week. Tuition, Common English, $4 per quarter, the 
higher branches of Mathematicks Natural Philosophy and the Classics $5 
per quarter. 

For a knowledge of the Character and Qualifications of Mr Goddard apply 
to Rev S Barrett or Theophilus Parsons Esq. Boston Rev Mr Goodwin, Sand- 
wich or the Trustees. 



Alhponso Brooks 

Chandler Smith t 1 r. 1 

„, , „ ,, John tJrooks 

Charles Russell ^ , , r^ 



Charles Mirick 



Samuel Clarke 
John Brooks 
Caleb Dana 



Trustees. 



Education 215 

Brick House to be built at fork of road below Houghton Osgood's, and No. 2 
Cor. of Sewall Mirrick's orchard, north of Gregory road. 

According to a memoranda left by the late Albert C. Howe, Schoolhouse 
No. I stood near farmhouse of H. C. Delano. It was moved by John 
Stratton in 1834 to its present site, and is now occupied as a residence by 
Mrs. Ellen West. People around town went with their oxen to help move it. 
It was brought over Meeting house Hill (so called) to the Common, and to its 
present location. It took two days." 

The house now owned by Michael Kivlon was No. 9. The first school 
houses were of wood. From 1836 to 1838 or 1840, all the houses except in 
No. 2 and No. 7 were rebuilt of brick. In the winter of 1872, No. 4 house 
was burned and rebuilt of wood, in the summer of 1873, on the site of the 
brick one, near the brook. The old wooden one stood on the height of land, 
just beyond Warren Kendall's. In 1904 the house was removed to it's present 
location. No. 9 schoolhouse was sold to John Griffin in 1883 or 1884, for a 
carriage house. He later sold to John Fay who used it as a paint shop. No. i 
was sold the same year to John Brooks, Jr. and made into a dwelling house, 
afterwards occupied by Thomas Kivlon, but owned by the Brooks heirs. 
These two schools were given up when the Goodnow school rooms in the 
Library Building were occupied. These two school houses were both built of 
wood. All the school houses have been remodeled inside, and newly furnished 
with modern seats. No. 3 school house (wood) was removed to the land now 
owned by Mrs. Mary (Brown) Bartlett Walton and made into a house now 
occupied by her. In or about 1843, the present hall and school building were 
built of wood. No. 10 Everettville school was given up, and soon after Mr. 
Isaac F. Thompson bought the house and it was torn down. It was a brick 
house. 

No. 7 School house was moved back and remodeled in 1874 or 1875, No. 6 of 
brick, and No. 5 of brick both remodeled and furnished with new seats. No. 8 
was moved back and rebuilt in 1856. 

Amounts granted certain years 

1784 £45. (Centre £16.14) 1787 £50 

1786 £50 1788 £50 

Every male person of age of twenty-one years in each plot shall 
be considered a voter and shall have notice of the time and place of 
the Squadron meeting, and no money shall be expended without 
the consent of the majority part of the votes present. 



1789 £60 








1790 £60 








1793 


70 






1794 


70 $233.33 






1795 


70 






1796 


70 






1797 


120 A Committee from each 




district to 


provide 


tea- 




cher 







1 79 1 £60 




1792 £70 




1812 


475 


1813 


540 


1814 


540 


1815 


630 



I8I6 720 



2i6 History of Princeton 



1798 127.10 




1820 720 


1799 140. $466.67 




1821 720 


1800 140 




1824 585 


1 801 140 




1825 585 


1802 $466.67 Committee appointed 






districts not named 




1828 585 


1803 $466.67 Committee appointed 






districts named 




1829 615 


1804 $466.67 




1830 615 


1805 $466.67 




1840 900 


1806 475 






schools of the town hav'e s 


hared 


in the general 



progress of education in our land. 

The simple course of study of former days, reading, 
spelling, writing, arithmetic and grammar has gradually 
given place to a larger curriculum including geography, 
history, physiology, nature study, drawing, vocal music 
and sewing, while the High School adds algebra, geometry, 
rhetoric, civil government, literature, physics, Latin, 
French, agriculture and cooking. 

Many of the schools of the town have been consoli- 
dated at the Centre, the pupils being conveyed from 
different parts of the town, at the town's expense. This 
method has resulted in securing a far larger school, and 
more efificient instruction. 

The beginning of a High School was made in 1891. It 
has grown in numbers and in extent of curriculum though 
as yet it provides only a three years course. For some 
years the consolidated schools and the High School occu- 
pied rooms in the Town Hall building and the Library 
building. But the erection of the building on Boylston 
Avenue has given far better accommodations. 

Until within a period of a little more than twenty years 
the supervision of the schools was entrusted solely to the 
school committee. 

But, now, in accordance with state law a superinten- 
dent has been chosen, at first for one year, but now for a 
term of three years, this town being classed for the pur- 
pose with Westminster and Sterling. 

The superintendents have been as follows: 








Second Floor of High School Northerly District School House, 1797-8 




Princeton High School, 1906 



IrjTeai^eoiATe 





First Floor of High School 



Basement of High School 



Education 217 

Flora E. Kendall, 2 yrs. Geo. H. Knowlton, 4 yrs. 

Geo. R. Pinkham, 2 yrs. Albert L. Barbour, i yr. 

Edgar H. Grout, 4 yrs. George Rugg, 7 yrs. 

Marshall A. Edson, 3 yrs. 

the present incumbent, H. C. Waldron, 3 yrs. 

The school committee at present are; 
Wm. M. Roper, Jr., Arthur E. Hutchinson, Ethel R. 
Mirick. Miss Mirick has the distinction of being the first 
woman chosen on the School Board in this town. 



CHAPTER X 
MILITARY HISTORY 

French and Indian War. — During the French and 
Indian War of 1755, the town of Rutland furnished many 
men for service among whom were quite a number who 
were Hving in the East Wing, or soon after became 
residents. 

A roll of a company under command of Capt. Peter 
Davis of Rutland which marched for relief of Fort William 
Henry, August 1757, bears the following names, all of 
whom were more or less identified with the history of 
Princeton : ^ 

Joseph Eveleth Boaz Moore 

Eliphalet How Isaac Wheeler 

Oliver Davis Ephraim Allen 

Robert Cowdin Timothy Keyes 

Samuel Woods Sadey Mason 

Joseph Gibbs Joshua Nurse 

Robert Forbes Seth Savage 

Robert Woods, Jr Lieut. Benj. Holden 

then of Dedham 
was in the service 
in 1760. 

Revolutionary War. — Although one of the towns iso- 
lated from the centre of excitement in the approaching 
difficulties with the mother country, Princeton was not 
unaffected nor indifferent to the troubles which bore more 
directly upon the larger and more accessible places. The 
earliest record of the action of the town, in relation to 
revolutionary measures was entered March 7th, 1768, 

1 Mass. Archives, Vol. 95, page 531. 
218 



Military History 219 

when the voters at their annual Town Meeting, denounced 
the Act of ParHament, imposing duties on paper, glass, 
painters' colors and tea imported into the colonies. At a 
public meeting held in January 1773, the inhabitants dis- 
cussed the grievances of the colonists. The subject was 
referred to a committee, who were instructed to draw up 
an expression of their views, and the following resolutions 
were presented and unanimously adopted by the town. 

Resolved: i. That the connection between the mother country and these 
colonies is of great consequence to both, if mutually kept up; but when 
digressions are made from estabhshed compacts, that connection begins to 
lessen, and, of course, creates an ahenation, the effects of which must be 
attended with bad consequences. For the resolute man, in a just cause, 
while in a state of freedom, never will consent to any abridgments or 
deprivations of his just rights and disdains threats or any measures of com- 
pulsion to submission thereto — not like the dog, the more he is beaten the 
more he fawns — but, on the contrary, with a noble mind, defends to the 
last and every stripe stimulates his efforts and endeavors in defence of his 
own or his country's cause. 

2. That this town, as a part of this province, whensoever their rights, 
liberties and properties are infringed upon, by what authority soever, that 
they, in honor to their forefathers, by whose solitude and industry, under 
God, they have enjoyed the fruits of their labors — for the regard they bear 
to posterity — as friends to their country, have good right to complain and 
manifest their uneasiness at such proceedings. 

3. That the repeated attempts to make the people of this province 
submit to unjust taxation and absolute dependency upon the crown, to- 
gether, appear subversive of, and inconsistent with, the constitution of a 
free people. 

4. That such measures are unconstitutional and demand the attention 
of all well disposed people and a mutual connection and joint adherence 
in proper means for redress, that thereby the rights and liberties, civil and 
religious, which have been transmitted to us from our illustrious ancestors, 
might be kept inviolate by us their posterity. 

5. That they shall be always ready to concur in all just and proper 
means that this province and the neighboring colonies may come into for 
the common good and in conjunction with the friends of liberty, shall bear 
testimony to all invasions upon our rights and liberties. 

6. That this report (these resolutions) be put upon the town record, that 
posterity may know they had a sense of their invaluable rights and liberties 
and were not willing to part with them, but by their own consent, and that 
they are determined to vindicate and support them as times and occasions may 
call for. 



Committee 



Ephraim Woolson, Chairman. 
Boaz Moore. 
Ebenezer Jones. 
Charles Brooks. 



At the annual town meeting in March, 1774, it was 
voted "to choose a committee of correspondence to com- 



220 History of Princeton 

municate with committees of correspondence in other 
towns in this province, to give the earliest inteUigence to 
the inhabitants of this town of any designs that they shall 
discover at any subsequent period against our natural and 
constitutional rights." This committee consisted of Benja- 
min Holdcn, Joseph Eveleth, Samuel Woods, William 
Thompson, John Jones, Adonijah Howe and Sadey Mason, 
four of whom were to constitute a quorum. 

It is related that later on when word reached Princeton 
that a band of the King's troops had made an excursion 
up the Mystic River and carried off a quantity of gun- 
powder from the Charlestown Arsenal, it thoroughly 
aroused the inhabitants, and they spent the night in mould- 
ing pewter plates into musket bullets, and other prepara- 
tions for immediate service. 

As soon as arrangements were completed, several of the 
inhabitants started and had proceeded as far as Lancaster 
when they were met by messengers from Boston, who 
assured them their further advance was unnecessary. 

Princeton was by no means backward in the part it took 
in the Revolutionary War. 

In March, 1775, a company of minute men was formed, 
armed, and equipped, and ordered to "train once a week" 
and to "put themselves in a proper position for defense." 
The officers of this company were Capt. Ebenezer Jones, 
Lieut. Joseph Sargent, and Ensign Samuel Hastings. 

At the same time the town voted to "procure seventy- 
two dollars for their use, besides the necessary accoutre- 
ments;" the selectmen being instructed to pay said money 
"when they marched." 

On the memorable 19th of April, 1775, the arrival of a 
messenger shouting, "to arms! to arms! the war has begun!" 
and the ringing of the church bell summoned the people 
together. In a short time the minute-men were paraded 
on the common and took up their line of march towards 
Lexington and Concord. 

During the whole revolutionary struggle the people of 
Princeton cheerfully met the demands of the State and 






<^/i^.^^ ^ 




f V"""^^' 777/ 



1 















Military History 221 

Congress. In January, 1775, ^s recommended by Con- 
gress, a contribution of money and provisions was raised 
for the towns of Boston and Charlestown, and when, on 
the first of May, an order by the Continental Congress 
provided for the removal of indigent inhabitants of Boston 
and distribution among the inland towns, Princeton voted 
to receive its proportion of twenty-four. 

On the 14th of June, a motion was made to see if the 
town would support independence, if it should be de- 
clared; and it was voted unanimously to concur. On the 
14th of July news of the Declaration of Independence was 
received. The messenger bearing the Declaration from 
Philadelphia to Boston was intercepted in Worcester and 
a copy obtained which was read to the people from the 
porch of the Old South Church by Isaiah Thomas, the 
patriot printer. The good news quickly spread to the ad- 
joining towns reaching Princeton that same day. 

On Sept. loth one-fifth part of the militia of the state 
were called out to march to the defense of New York, and 
one-fourth part that remained were required to be armed 
and equipped and ready to march at a moment's notice, if 
their services were needed. 

Calls were sent out at frequent intervals for soldiers for 
the defense of Boston and other exposed places. In 1777, 
a requisition was made for every seventh of the male in- 
habitants over 16 years of age to complete the quota of 
the State. 

At the town meeting in March, Princeton voted to give 
twenty pounds to each man enlisting in the Continental 
army for three years or during the war. They also voted 
to procure and deliver shirts, stockings, and other clothing, 
for the Massachusetts soldiers in the Continental army in 
the proportion of one set to every seven males over 16 
years of age of its population. 

On August 9th, 1777, fourteen men were drafted to join 
the Northern army three weeks under General Lincoln. 
Under the resolve of June 12, 1778, for raising 180 men for 
an expedition to Rhode Island, several were drafted from 



222 History of Princeton 

Princeton, and on the 23rd of June, two Princeton citizens 
were required as guards to the captured troops of General 
Burgoyne, and a bounty of £72 was voted to soldiers en- 
listing and for the support of their families. The town 
also voted to obtain on a loan the money necessary for the 
payment of bounties. 

On Oct. 19, 1778, the town voted "to sell the steel which 
was voted to this town by the General Court, which is now 
in the hands of Mr. Will'" Thompson," also "to dispose of 
the gun locks in D° How's hands." These articles sold for 

£19-1-6^ 

On Oct. 9, 1779, nine soldiers were enlisted to join Gen- 
eral Washington at Claverick on the Hudson; and were 
supported by the town at an average cost of £50 each. 

In June 1780, twelve men were enlisted for the Conti- 
nental army at Claverick and provisions were furnished for 
the army; £8460 for the purchase of beef and £1600 at 
another time. The town secured by loan to meet its 
obligations and to raise additional men for the army 

£37.305-i6-7''- 

As the war progressed the supplying of soldiers became 
more difficult and they were procured only by the offer of 
exorbitant bounties and additional gratuities. At a meet- 
ing Jan. 17, 1 78 1, it was "voted that each soldier that shall 
enlist in the Continental service for three years, or during 
the war, receive one hundred hard dollars in the following 
manner; viz.: Twenty hard dollars, and twenty more at 
the exchange, viz.: Seventy-five for one to be paid before 
he marches; thirty dollars to be paid six months after 
marching; to be delivered to the soldier in camp if re- 
quired, and, at the end of three years, each soldier shall 
receive twelve three-year-old cattle of a middling size, or 
current money equivalent to purchase said cattle, and each 
soldier shall receive the aforesaid encouragement only in 
proportion to the time he shall be in the service. 

In March a levy of £2025, old currency, was made to 
defray army expenses and in May the selectmen report 
having "paid to the war committee at sundry times 



Military History 223 

£19,273-13^-6 , and later in the year £9000 for beef and 
£784-10* in money for soldiers. 

The rapid depreciation of paper currency rendered the 
normal amount of taxation excessive, the true value of 
appropriations is difficult to determine, but an approximate 
idea can be gained from the average depreciation each 
month, viz.: In 1781 from Feb. 27 to May i, one dollar of 
specie was equal to 187 cents in Continental money; 225 
to May 25; 300 to June 15; 400 to Oct. i ; and after that 
date Continental money was practically worthless. 

The leading authority on the difference between training 
bands and the alarm list is the fifth volume of the Province 
Laws, pages 445 and 451. The training band meant the 
militia, limited to men from sixteen to fifty years of age, 
while the alarm list included men up to sixty-five, and is 
popularly known as minutemen. Minutemen were or- 
ganized as early as 1774, and were a contrivance for getting 
round the authority of the crown and the loyalists over the 
militia. It is not generally known that the present system 
of European armies was copied from Massachusetts. And 
we forget that up to about 1783 Massachusetts was a 
military community, and Boston was a military town. 
The king and his officers lost the Revolutionary War be- 
cause they expected to fight farmers and mechanics, and 
met a military people whom Prussia was glad to take for a 
model. 

The study of this early period in the establishment of the 
Bay State Colony displays the fact that the gradual de- 
velopment of our military organizations had their rise for 
the greater part in the defence of distant and sparsely popu- 
lated settlements, and owed their inspiration to the united 
action of town and church. The Minute Men were of a 
later organization, not earlier than 1773. The alarm list 
had for special purpose the defence of town and church 
against attacks by the Indians. The town provided the 
powder and ball; each man owned his rifle or shotgun, but 
was responsible to the town for the use of the ammunition, 
none of which was to be used for private purposes, such, for 



224 History of Princeton 

instance, as hunting game, or shooting-matches. Each 
Sunday the men of the alarm list brought their guns, pow- 
der and ball to the church. After morning service they 
were inspected by one of the deacons, and any deficiency 
in ammunition was to be paid for by the man found to be 
deficient. In some towns, perhaps in all, a small building 
was set apart, usually in the cemetery, where the town's 
arms, powder and ball were kept. The Minute Men of 
1773 were originally composed of about one-third of the 
members of the train band or company. They were to be 
ready to respond at a minute's notice to proceed to any 
threatened point of attack or danger without waiting for 
the gathering of the company. The organization was first 
established by what was called the "Liberty Men" of each 
town against British attacks, and later the town company 
as a whole took the name of Minute Men, as was the case 
at Lexington and Concord. 

Records of the Military Company in Princeton* 



Commission Officers 
Received their Commissions 
Under ColP John Murray 
at Rutland Ap' 7*^ 1774 



Eben'' Jones Captain 

Caleb Mirick i'* Lieut. 

Jos^ Sargent 2°*^ Lieut. 

Eph™ Hartwell Ensign 

John Jones Clerk, appointed by the Captain, & Sworn Ap''. 1774. 

Charles Brooks 

Sam' Hastings 

Enoch Brooks 

Norman Clark 

I Silas Houghton ■ f T h TTi HI 

Peabody How [ Fifers i ■; c^ ^ t r 

Ak;;-.u lro...;„„f^r, I Jos Sargent Jn\ 



Sergeants 



T^ rs f W-" Whitteker 

Drumm" ^ ^ , , ^ 

I Jacob Norcross 



Abijah Harrington 
N.B. Elisha Gale Senior was y*^ 3'"'^ Sergeant & on his Deceased was 
suceeded by E Bro 1 ]. 

Tilly Littlejohn Isaac Parker Joseph Phelps J' 

Abner How Jona° Geary Sam' Thomson 

Elisha Wilder Jonas Keyes Sam' Woods J'' 

* On inside of cover of original is the following: 

Capt. Jones Entertained i** Training June 21^* 1774 
Lieut. Mirick " 2^ " Aug. 30 " 

Lieut. Sargent " 3*^ " Sept. 28 " 

Ensign Hartwell " 4*^^ " Nov. 29 " 



Military History 



225 



Tim° Goodenough 
Ichab'^ Standley 
John Barker 
Nath*^' Cutter 
Josiah Davis 
Ric"^ Baxter 
Elisha Hobbs 
Josiah Mirick 
Jabez Stratton 
Phin^ Gregory 
Isaac Thomson 
Jos. Haynes 
Uriah Newton 
Elisha Gale J'' 
Chamb" Eustis 
Daniel Sumner 
Stephen Herrington 
Phin^ Beaman 
Isaac Norcross 
David Everett 
Eben'' Colburn 
James Curtis 
Jacob Morse 
Eliph^ Rogers 
Belcher Richards 
John Gleason 
Thos. Gleason 
Joshua Mosrn" 
Sam' Mosman 
W"' Dodds 
Nathan Smith 
Andrew Paterson 
Jon^ Powers 
Abra™ Savage 
John Watson 
Ichab^ Fisher 



Asa Hoit 
Sylva^ Oaks 
Moses Herringt" 
John Trask 
Amos Spring 
Reub° Parman' 
Jos. Whitney 
George Davidson 
Jabez Gerould 
Jesse Gleason 
Nathan Jones 
Thos Hapgood 
David Hows 
Dan' Gibbs 
Elisha Gibbs 
Eph"" Roper 
Silas Fay 
Jos. Gibbs 
Benj"^ Smith 
Levy Wyman 
Amos Sargent 
Solo'^ Rolph 
Sam' Mirick 
W™ Richardson J' 
Eph"^ Jones 
Stephen Hastings 
Sam Kendal 
Moses Stickney 
David Bennett 
Eleazer Rider 
Alphe" Hews 
David WooUey 
Jonas Pierce 
John Brigham 
Joel Sawin 
Curtis Fowl 



Elijah Hardey 
Jacob Savage 
Asa Copland 
Oliver Davis J"" 
Dan' Park Jun"" 
Sam' Robins J'' 
Eph™ Mirick 
Benj"* Tread way 
W" Parkhurst 
Bartho^ Cheever 
Eli Stearns 
Elijah Farrin"* 
Manass** Roper 
Obad** Allen 
Aaron Ball 
Luther Parm"" 
Sam' Whitney 
Abel Herrington 
David Nutting 
Ephraim Smith 
Francis Dean 
Abel Mosman 
Eleazer Pechard 
Oliver Mosman 
Phile" Robins 
Andrew Barber 
Jonathan Phillips 
Nathan Bernard 
Moses Ball 
Isaac Kendall 
Luther Rice 
David Keyes 
Jos. Hosley 
Jon" Eady 
Abra°i Gale 
Joshua Stiles 



S Sept. 1774. Officers Resigned under Col° Murray by sending y® following 
Letter. — Hon''^ Sir. Having Rec^ Comm^^ of Hon'' under your Command 
— Taking it for granted you was a friend to y"^ Country the contrary of 
which we were unwilling to believe — But since you have accepted of y® 
late appointmt as an Unconstitutional Counsellor, which we must own sur- 
prized us — Allow us to Enform y"" Honor, that we no longer hold our 
Commissions under y*^ Present mode of Goverment. 



5*^'* Sep^ 1774- The Inhab*^ of y® Town of Princeton Being Assembled at y® 
Meeting House in sd Town after having passed several Votes — T'was put 
to see if the Town would Choose Military Officers to Lead and Order them 
in case of an Invasion of Arms, to put y'' Late Acts into Execution. 



226 History of Princeton 

Voted in y*" Affirmative — They then proceeded to Choose 



Officers of till y® 
Result of y^ Gen' 
Congress be made 
Publick. 



Eben'' Jones Capt. 
Caleb Mirick i^' Lieut. 
Jos. Sargent 2"^^ Lieut. 
Ep°^ Hartwell Ensign. 



Qth Nov'" 1774. The Military Company in Princeton being met for Exercis- 
ing & Dr. said Company in y*^ Art Military It was thought Proper to Raise 
a Company of men to be Ready at a minute's warning In case of an 
Allarm: as many other Towns in y® Province had done — According 
Officers were chosen by y*^ Company to Draw out or Inlist s*^ Company (of 
minute men so called) Viz 

Boaz Moore Capt | A List of y® Company on 
John Jones i®' Lieut. [ y*^ Last Page. 
Adon*^ How 2'^ Lieut. J [Not given] 



Field Officers Chosen by Commission Officers and Commission Officers 
Chosen by y^ People in y^ County of Worcester — 

Thirtyeth of Sep* 1774. Commission Officers met at Rutland District 
and made Choice of Field Officers for the Regiment in y® County of Worcester 
Viz. 

Nathan Sparhawk of Rutland Dis* Colonel 
Jonathan Grout of Petersham Lieu'' Colonel 
Jonas Wilder of Templeton Major 



Field Officers for y^ Rigement of minute men Chosen at Worcester for Rut- 
land Paxton Hutchinson Princeton Holden Hubbardston Templeton &ct 
Viz. 

D of Petersham Colonel 

Benjamin Holden of Princeton Lieut Colonel 
Willard Moore of Paxton Major 
Ocf 1774 



June i^* 1 Records of y*^ Sad Divided state of y^ English Nation and Not- 
1774 I withstanding y^ Disaffection between Great Britain the Colonies, 
has been for several years standing This Record bears date from the first of 
June 1774 when British Troops were Landed at Boston and Encamped on y^ 
Common — with their Artilery levelled at y^ Town of Boston — His Ma- 
jestys Ships of war in Boston Harbour, to stop all Trade and Commerce. 

In July following Rec'^ accounts from G* Britain that his majestys Coun- 
sellors for y^ Province of Massch. Bay were appointed Unconstitutionally 
from Home — which proved true — accordingly the most of them were 
Sworn — the latter end of Aug* Large numbers of People Openly Visited 
many of those who had accepted of their appointments, and obliged them 
to Resign their Offices — A General Concern through the Country — Dis- 
tressing Events — • Rushing in the flood, threaten to Distroy. Thos. Gage 
Governor in chief, Invested Power and authority from his Majesty to put 



Military History 227 

the late Acts of Parliament in force — which if affected — fatal to y^ 
Nation — many Unhappy Disasters happen. 

Second of Sep*^ Regular Troops take about two hundred barrels of Powder 
from y® Powder house in Mistick near Cambridge — the whole Province 
Allarmed being informed that the Powder was taken & six men killed almost 
every Town General march'd but were stoped by a second Information Viz. 
that no hves were lost, all Returned — Princeton Company march'd as far 
as Lancaster s""*^ Sept. Setting of y*^ Court y*^ 6 & 7 Sep'' prevented by a 
meeting of a LargeNumber of Peopleon s*^ 6*^ & 7'''^ days of Sep* at Worcester 
for that Purpose 

Committees of Correspondence in y*^ Several Towns in y® County of 
Worcester met at Worcester in Aug* & Sep* Several times, past many 
Resolves, Notes, &ct Respecting the Distressed Circumstances of America. — 

American Congress Sit at Philedelphia in Sept. 

Provincial Congress Sit at Concord fifth Oct"". 

Continental Congress Returned in Nov'' 1774. 

It has been found impossible to ascertain the exact 
number of Princeton men who served in the Revolutionary 
army. The town furnished its full quota of men under the 
several calls, with one exception (in 1778) when it was 
deficient one man and paid the required fine of $100. 
There are no town records from which any reliable estimate 
can be made of the whole number of soldiers nor of the 
expenses incurred by the town. 

A careful examination has been made of the military 
rolls and papers in the State Archives (many of which are 
in a very imperfect condition), and every name thought to 
belong to this town, has been copied and appears in the list 
below. Many of these men, probably a large proportion, 
especially during the first few years of the war, were volun- 
teers but it is impossible to determine the facts in all cases, 
so that our list includes the names of all persons credited to 
Princeton, for any service during the war — volunteers 
and drafted men as well as those that were hired. It is 
possible that some names have been omitted, and equally 
possible that a few of the names should be credited to other 
towns, but it is believed that the list is nearly correct. It 
should be remembered that some persons, remembered as 
Revolutionary Soldiers and living in this town, made it 
their place of residence subseque?it to the war, and hence 
their names may not appear in this list. 



228 



History of Princeton 



Captain Boaz Moore's Company in Colonel Ephraim Doolitlle's 
Regiment from 19th of April, 1775. 



Capt. Boaz Moore 

Lt. John Jones 

Lt. Adonijah How 

Sergt. Thomas Mason 
" Abraham Gale 
" John Barke 

Corp. Chamberhn Eustis 
" Humphrey Moore 
" Isaac Thompson 
" Curtis Fowl 

Fife Samuel Ferrington 

Drum William Whitaker 
" James Curtis 
" Isaac Parker 
" David Everitte 
" Joseph Eveleth 
" George Parkliurst 
" Ephraim Hartwell 
" Josiah Mirick 
" Ephraim Roper 



13 


" ElishaGale 


9 


9 


" Jacob Morse 


16 


18 


" David Haws 


8 


18 


' Samuel Robbins, Jr. 


6 


9 


* Eleser Packard 


8 


II 


' Andrew Barber 


8 


9 


' Levey Wyman 


8 


10 


' Uriah Newton 


II 


18 


' David Rugge 


8 


8 


' Joel Sawin 


8 


8 


' Ichabod Fisher 


8 


9 


' Isaac Kendal 


8 


8 


' Thos. Nappar(?) 


16 


9 


' Norman Clark 


II 


8 


' Jabez Mynan(?) 


8 


9 


' Jona Geary 


II 


8 


' Jesse Fisher 


8 


9 


' Phineas Gregory 


10 


9 
8 


' Abijah Herrington 


6 



Soldiers of the Revolution 

A 

This list includes " Lexington Alarm " men and enlisted 
men belonging to or credited to Princeton. The names 
with an asterisk are those of men hired by the town, and 
no effort has been made to identify them. 

t Died before pension act of 1818. J On pension lists. § Grand Marshal. 

Abbott, Isaac. 

Ball, Nathan. 

Ball, Samuel. 

Barber, A>roREw. 

Barker, John. 
§tBEAMAN, Jonas. 

Bennett, David. 

Billings, Silas. 

BoARDMAN, William. 
fBowEN, John. 

Brigham, John. 
fBRiGHAM, Moses. 



Leicester, Vt., 1818. 

Died, Princeton, March 27, 1804, aged 54. 

Died, Hubbardston, Apl. 30, 1825, aged 74. 



{fBROOKS, Charles. 



Died in service, December, 1777, aged 21. 
Died, Acworth,N.H., Apr. 2, i84i,aged83. 
Died, Delaware, Canada, Aug. 13, 1814, 

aged 61. 
Died, Princeton, March, 1798, aged 66. 



Military History 



229 



JCheever, Bartholomew. 
Cheever, Jacob. 
JClark, Norman. 

§tCowDiN, Robert. 
fCuRTis, James. 
Cutter, Benjamin. 

Cutter, Josiah. 
Cutter, Nathaniel, Jr. 
Darling, Timothy. 
Davidson, George. 
Davis, Isaac. 

fDAVIS, MiCAH. 

Davis, Oliver, Jr. 

Davis, Samuel (of Concord). 
§Davis, Semon. 

DoDDS, William. 
fEusTis, Chamberlain. 
IfEvELETH, Joseph. 
fEvERETT, David. 

Farrington, Elijah. 

Farrington, Samuel. 

Fisher, Ichabod. 

Fisher, Jesse. 
JFowLE, Curtis. 

Fowle, John. 
fFROST, John. 

Gale, Abraham. 

Gale, Elisha. 

Gale, Henry. 

Garfield, Daniel. 
JGeary, Jonathan. 

tGEROULD, JABEZ. 

Gibbs, Daniel. 

Gibbs, Elisha. 
Gibbs, Joseph. 

fGLEASON, Jesse. 
Goodnow, Daniel. 
Goodnow, Timothy. 
Grant, Thomas. 



Died, Princeton, Jan. 8, 1838, aged 80. 

Died, Clarksville, N. H., May 25, 1842, 

aged 99 years, 5 mos. 
Died, Princeton, Oct. 3, 1785, aged 55. 
Died before 1789. 
Died, Fort Ann, N. Y., Mch. 5, 1846, 

aged 84. 
Died, Watertown, May, 1833, aged 70. 
Died, Grafton, Vt., Sept. 4, 1841, aged 81. 



-, 1785, aged 22. 



Died, Princeton, — 
Died, Princeton (?). 



Died, Princeton, Jan. 29, 1828, aged 69. 
Died, Princeton, Oct. 28, 1833, aged 85. 

Died, Rutland, , 1801, aged 57. 

Died, Princeton, Oct. 11, 1790, aged 58. 
Died in Army, June 26, 1775, aged 30. 



Died, Paris, N. Y. (?) 
Died, Paris, N. Y. (?) 



-, 1783- 



Died, Princeton, — 
Died, probably in New Hampshire. 
Died, Barre, Vt., Jan. 17, 1827, aged 84. 
Died, Brighton, N. Y., Aug. 13, 1836, 
aged 84. 



Died, East Smithfield, Pa., June 12, 1802, 

aged 54. 
Died, Peterboro, N. H., Sept. 25, 1824, 

aged 73. 
Died, Orono, Me., 1846, aged 93. 
Died, Ashburnham, Mch. 19, 1829, aged 

73. 
Died, Princeton, June 11, 1783, aged 34. 



Died, Lancaster, probably. 



230 



History of Princeton 



*Gray, Daniel. 
§Gregory, Phineas. 

Hapgood, Thomas. 

Harrington, Abel. 
§Harrington, Abijah. 

Harrington, Isaac. 

Harrington, Uriah. 

Harrington, Moses. 

Harris, Luke. 
IHartwell, Ephraim. 

Hastings, Charles. 

Hawes, David. 
§HoLDEN, Benjamin, Col. 

Hosley, Joseph. 
§tHow, Adonijah. 
§tHow, Peabody. 

Hudson, Reuben. 
§tJoNES, Ebenezer, Major. 
tJoNES, Ebenezer, Jr. 
§tJoNES, Ephraim. 
tJoNES, John, Capt. 

Jones, Nathan. 

Kendall, Isaac. 
§JKeyes, Israel. 
§Keyes, Jonas. 

Keyes, Peabody. 
fMASON, Paul. 
§tMASON, Thomas. 

fMAYNARD, JaBEZ. 

*McAllester, Reuben. 
*McMallen, William. 
*McMillin, Samuel. 
Meed, Jabez. 
tMiRiCK, James. 

fMiRiCK, John. 

tMlRICK, JOSIAH. 

fMooRE, Abijah, Capt. 
§tMooRE, BoAZ, Capt. 
IfMooRE, Humphrey. 
§MooRE, Url\h (of Bolton). 
Moore, Willard. 
tMoRSE, Jacob. 
fMoRSE, Joshua. 



Died, Princeton, Dec. 2, 1821, aged 78. 



Died, Princeton, May 27, 1821, aged 78. 



Died, New Ipswich, N. H., 1816, aged 70. 
Died, Ashburnham, Nov. 28, 1850, aged 90. 

Died, Princeton, Nov. 24, 1820, aged 92. 

Died, Princeton, Sept. 10, 1800, aged 63. 
Died, Princeton, May 9, 1806, aged 70. 

Died, Princeton, Nov. 4, 1779, aged 53. 
Died, Boston, before 1814. 
Died, Princeton, June 21, 1784, aged 27, 
Died, Crown Point, July 4, 1776, aged i2)- 
Died, Ashburnliam, Apl. 8, 1827, aged 74. 

Died, Princeton, Sept. 18, 1841, aged 81. 
Died, Princeton, July 21, 1822, aged 79. 
Died, Jackson, Tioga Co., Pa., after 1802. 
Died, Princeton, Feb. 20, 1799, aged 85. 
Died, Princeton, Nov. 28, 1814, aged 81. 
Died in Army (Canada?), 1776, aged 22. 



Died in Army, at Boston, Dec. 8, 1778, 
aged 45. 

Died, Weston, , 1782, aged 60. 

Died, Princeton, June 15, 1790, aged 49. 

Died, Boylston, , 1796, aged 72. 

Died, Princeton, Oct. 9, 1802, aged 67. 
Died, Princeton, Dec. 19, 1790, aged 49. 
Died, Princeton, May 25, 1820, aged 66. 

Died, Princeton, April 15, 1819, aged 73. 
Died, Sherborn (?) Apl. i, 1787, aged 63. 



Military History 



231 



MosMAN, Abel. 
MosMAN, Joshua. 
JMosMAN, Oliver. 

Napper, Thomas. 

Newton, Jonathan. 
jNewton, Uriah. 
fNoRCROSS, Ephriam. 
tNoRCROss, Isaac. 
fNoRCROss, Jacob. 

Oak, Silvanus. 

OsBORN, John. 

fPACKARD, ElEAZER. 

Parker, Isaac. 
fPARKER, Levi. 

fPARKHURST, DANIEL. 

Parkhurst, Ephraim. 

Parkhurst, George. 

Parkhltrst, William. 
IJParmenter, Luther. 

Parmenter, Reuben. 

Paterson, Andrew. 

Peirce, Jonas. 

Powers, Jonathan. 

Raymond, Daniel. 

Raymore, James. 

Raymore, John. 

Raymore, Jonas. 

Raymore, Thomas. 

RoBBiNS, Philemon. 
fRoBBiNS, Samuel, Jr. 

tROGERS, ElIPHALET. 

fRoPER, Ephraim. 

RuGG, Amos. 

RuGG, David. 
ISargent, Joseph, Capt. 

Savery, Thomas. 
ISawin, Joel. 
fSAWYER, James. 

Solomon, Peter. 

Stearns, Benjamin. 
JStearns, Eli. 

Stewart John. 

Stiles, Joshua. 

Stratton, Samuel. 



Died, Henderson, N. Y., Apl. 30, 1835, 
aged 75. 

Died, Alstead, N. H. (?). 
Died, Princeton, May, 1805, aged 69. 
Died, Princeton (?), Apl. 18, 1781, aged 18. 
Died, Royalston, May 2, 1817, aged 78. 
Died, Princeton, Nov. 25, 1805, aged 54. 



Died, Plainfield (Mass.?), 1803, aged 76. 

Died, Royalton, Vt., Mch, 1813, aged 60. 
Died, Princeton, July 17, 1810, aged 54. 
Died, , before 1798. 



Died, Princeton, Aug. i, 1850, aged 94. 
Died, Princeton, Dec. 30, 1823, aged 75. 



Died, Ashby, Sept. 30, 1835, aged 71. 



Died, Weston (Warren), June 14, 181 5. 
Died, Royalston, May 4, 1815, aged 78?. 
Died, Sterling, Dec. 5, 1793, aged 78. 



Died, Princeton, Mch. 22, 1797, aged 65. 
— , 17S0. 



Died, Princeton, 
Died in service. 



Died, Lancaster, Mch. 7, 1825, aged 67. 

Died, Boylston, May 14, 1828, aged 70. 
Died, Holden, Jan. 13, 1838, aged 74. 



232 History of Princeton 

Sumner, Joel. 
§Thompson, Isaac. Died, Princeton, Feb. 16, 1833, aged 94. 

Thompson, James. 

Thompson, Samuel. 

Tiller (or Tillotson), Jona- 
than, Jr. 

Trask, John. 

Treadway, Benjamin. 
J Vanes (or Vance), William. 

Whitney, Samuel. 

Whittaker, William. Died, Princeton, July 22, 1830, aged 86. 

Whittelow (or Whitten), 
Matthew. 

Wilder, Elisha. 

Woods, Samuel, Jr. 

WooLSON, Edward. 

Wyman, John (of Lexington 
or Lunenburgh). 

Wyman, Levi. 

B 

This list includes those who at time of enlistment were 
not inhabitants of Princeton, but either before or subse- 
quent to the war resided in the town. The identity of 
those names marked with a * is not clearly established. 

fALLEN, Simeon. 

Shrewsbury. Died, Hubbardston, Dec. 28, 1805, aged 

55- 
§Babcock, Amos. 

Sherborn. Died, Princeton, Nov. 15, 1835, aged 76. 

jBiGELOW, Samuel. 

Newton. 

BOWKER, MiCAH. 

Sudbury. 
fBowMAN, Solomon. 

Cambridge. Died (killed). Battle of Monmouth, June 

28, 1778, aged 34. 
fBowMAN, Thaddeus, Jr. 

Winchendon. Died, Weathersfield, Vt., Apl. 1815, aged 

72. 

fBOYDEN, JaBEZ. 

Medfield. Died, Ticonderoga, Sept. 9, 1776, aged 27. 

JBriant, Isaac. 

Rutland. Died, Rutland, June 4, 1836, aged 74. 



Military History 233 

Chandler, John. 

Lancaster. Died, Princeton, March 26, 1832, aged 82. 

Cheever, Daniel. 

Rutland or Lancaster. Died, Princeton, Sept. 9, 1822. 
Dresser, Oliver. 

Lancaster. 
Eager, Fortunatus. 

Lancaster. 
fEsTABROOK, Samuel, Jr. 

Holden. Died, West Boylston, 18 16, aged 69. 

§Everett, Joshua. 

Westminster. Died, Princeton, Feb. 4, 1825, aged 84. 

JFassett, Jonathan, Capt.(?). 

Shrewsbury. 
Fay, Silas. 



Northborough (?). 
Gale, Amos. 

Grafton. 
Gill, Michael. 

Westminster. 
fGooDNOw, Edward. 

Northborough. 
Gregory, Isaac. 

Weston. 
JHager, Abraham. 

Shrewsbury. 

tHARVEY, ZaCHARIAH. 

Westminster. 

Harvey, Zachariah, Jr. 

Westminster. 
IKeyes, Cyprl\n (3d). 

Shrewsbury. 
Keyes, Thomas. 

Northborough. 
§tKiLBXJRN, Calvin. 
Lancaster. 

fMAYNARD, ArTEMAS. 

Shrewsbury. 
§tMiRiCK, Stephen. 
Sudbury (?). 
Mosman, Timothy. 

Bolton. 
MtJDGE, Joseph. 
Needham. 



Died, Boylston, 1834, aged 89. 

Died, Camden, Me., after 1816. 

Died, probably in New Hampshire. 

Died, Princeton, August 10, 1840, aged 89. 

Died, Princeton, July 17, 1798, aged 56. 

Died, Weston(?). 

Died, Rutland, Sept. 29, 1847, aged 92. 

Died, Chesterfield, N. H., February 15, 
1801, aged 90. 

Died in Army. 

Died, Fairfax, Vt., Nov. 2, 1845, aged 90. 

Died, Princeton, Jan. 23, 1852, aged 94. 

Died, Sterling, , 1808, aged 74. 

Died, Princeton, May 20, 1827, aged 70. 

Died, Westminster, Nov. 9, 1822, aged 69. 



234 



History of Princeton 



MuNROE, Timothy. 

Rutland. 
MuzzEY, William. 

Hubbardston. 

NoRCROSS, Samuel. 

Westminster. 

§Parker, Ebenezer. 

Lexington. 
§Pakker, Nehemiah. 

(?). 

Ray, Asa. 

Westminster. 
Richardson, Moses. 

Roxbury. 
Roper, Benjamin. 

Lancaster. 
JRoPER, John. 

Lancaster. 
RoziER, Robert. 

Rutland. 
Sargent, Daniel. 

Holden. 

§tSAVAGE, SeTH. 

Rutland. 
fSAWiN, Ezeklel. 

Natick. 
Skinner, William. 
Hubbardston. 
SivHTH, Hugh. 

Rutland. 
fSpRiNG, Amos. 

Westminster. 
fSpRiNG, Thomas. 

Newton. 
Stratton, Isaac. 

Rutland. 
jTainter, Benjamin. 
Westborough. 
Thacher, John. 

Attleborough. 

§Thacher, Obadiah. 

Attleborough. 
§Thacher, Thomas. 

Attleborough. 



Died, Princeton, Feb. 7, 1836, aged 89, 
Died, Hubbardston, Oct. 10, 1830, aged 97. 

Died, Princeton, Oct. 19, 1839, aged 89. 
Died, Princeton, Jan. 12, 1850, aged 89. 



Died (Roxbury?), 



-, 183s, aged 



Died, Princeton, Nov. i, 1826, aged (70?) 
Died, Princeton, April 10, 1833, aged 73. 

Died, Worcester, May 17, 1838, aged 88. 
Died, Princeton, Aug. 21, 1807, aged 76. 
Died, Princeton, July 21, 181 7, aged 65. 



Died [killed] in Army, Sept. 19, 1777. 



Died, Worcester, N. Y., 1798, aged 65. 

Died, Harford, Penn., Jan. 8, 1841, aged 
82. 

Died, Harford, Penn., 1838, aged 81. 

Died, Harford, Penn., May, 1823, aged 68. 



Military History 



235 



Tower, Isaac. 
Lancaster. 

fTowER, Jeduthan. 

Rutland. 
Tower, Jonathan. 

Rutland. 
fTowER, Joseph. 

Hingham. 
fWHEELER, Isaac. 

Rutland. 
tWHiTCOMB, Asa, Col. 

Lancaster. 
§tWHiTNEY, Andrew. 

Newton. 
Wilson, Ephriam. 

Chelmsford. 
§Wilson, Ephriam (Dr.). 

Northborough. 

Crafts, Thomas. 

No. Bridgewater. 
§tHAYNES, Aaran. 

Sudbury. 
Bartlett, Samuel. 

Acton. 



Died, Bristol, N. Y., Feb. 13, 1823, aged 
71- 

Died, Paris, N. Y., Aug. 27, 1817, aged 6r. 
Died, Rutland April 20, 1846, aged 88. 
Died in Army, 1776, aged 26. 
Died, Rutland, April 22, 1817, aged 82. 
Died, Princeton, March 16, 1804, aged 84. 
Died, Princeton, Oct. 16, 1818, aged 64. 



Died, Bernardston, Nov. 17, 1839, aged 
78. 

Died, Middlebro, Feb. 27, 1819, aged 60. 

Died, Princeton, Feb. 16, 1842, aged 83. 

Died, Tharsalin, N. Y., a boy 13 years old 
who worked all night before battle of 
Bunker Hill. 



Markers have been placed over the graves of the fol- 
lowing named soldiers of the Revolution. 

In the old Cemetery. 



Beaman, Jonas. 
Brooks, Charles. 
Cheever, Bartholomew. 
CowDiN, Robert. 
Eveleth, Joseph. 
Harrington, Abijah. 
HoLDEN, Col. Benjamin. 
HoRR, Adonijah. 
HoRR, Peabody. 
Jones, Maj. Ebenezer. 
Jones, Ephraim. 
Keyes, Jonas. 



Died, March 27, 1804, aged 54. 
Died, March , 1798, aged 66. 
Died, Jan. 8, 1838, aged 80. 
Died, Oct. 3, 1785, aged 55. 
Died, Oct, 11, 1790, aged 58. 
Died, May 27, 1821, aged 78. 
Died, Nov. 24, 1820, aged 92. 
Died, Sept. 10, 1800, aged 63. 
Died, May 9, 1806, aged 70. 
Died, Nov. 4, 1779, aged 53. 
Died, June 21, 1784, aged 27. 
Died, July 21, 1822, aged 79. 



236 



History of Princeton 



Mason, Thomas. 
Moore, Capt. Boaz. 
Moore, Humphrey. 
Moore, Uriah. 
Savage, Seth. 
Thompson, Isaac. 
Whitney, Andrew. 



Everett, John. 
Gregory, Phineas. 
MnacK, Stephen. 



Parker, Nehemiah. 



Babcock, Amos. 
Parker, Ebenezer. 



Keyes, Isreal. 
Parmenter, Luther. 



Davis, Simon. 
Haynes, Aaron. 
KiLBURN, Calvin. 



Died, Nov. 28, 1814, aged 81. 
Died, Oct. 9, 1802, aged 67. 
Died, Dec. 19, 1790, aged 49. 
Died, May 25, 1820, aged 66. 
Died, Aug. 21, 1807, aged 76. 
Died, Feb. 16, 1833, aged 94. 
Died, Oct. 16, 1818, aged 64. 

In North Cemetery. 

Died, Feb. 4, 1825, aged 69. 
Died, Dec. 2, 1821, aged 78. 
Died, May 20, 1827, aged 70. 

In East Princeton Cemetery. 

Died, Jan. 12, 1850, aged 89. 

In East Cemetery. 

Died, Nov. 15, 1835, aged 76. 
Died, Oct. 19, 1839, aged 89. 

In South Cemetery. 

Died, Sept. 18, 1841, aged 81. 
Died, Aug. i, 1850, aged 94. 

In West Cemetery. 

Died, Jan. 29, 1828, aged 69. 
Died, Feb. 16, 1842, aged 83. 
Died, Jan. 23, 1852, aged 94. 



Pensions. Prior to the year 18 18, Congress passed no 
pension laws except for the relief of those officers and 
soldiers who were disabled in the service; consequently, all 
those who were not disabled, and died between the close 
of the Revolutionary war and the year 1818, could receive 
no pension, for all the pension laws require that the soldier 
shall be living at the date of the passage of the law. 

Act 1818. Granted pensions to those who served nine 
months or more in the Continental army alone, or those 
forces raised by Congress and serving in the regular army 
of the United Colonies, and those serving in the Conti- 
nental navy (who were in need of support). 

From the records and files in the office of the Secretary 
of State every item relating to Princeton has been copied, 



Military History 



237 



but a large proportion of the references consist of payments 
for mileage, arms, clothing, and supplies furnished families 
of soldiers. These items afford no clue to the number of 
men furnished or the cost to the town, and only a few are 
given below. 

Bounties paid to three years men. 

1777-79, 20 men £762. Currency 
1778-79, 4 men £ 56 " 

1780 19 men £22200. " 

1781 7 men £ 103.4 Specie 



6 months service R. I. 
6 months and 3 months. 
3 months and 5 months. 



" Bounties paid for different services of soldiers during 
the late war £2549.2 Paper Currency" (This cannot in- 
clude all the bounties paid by the town) 

1777 Jan. 21 Mileage 14 men 

1779 Sept. " 4 men to Springfield 

1779 June " 6 men to Peekskill 

1779 June " 4 men to Providence 

1780 March " 8 men 

1780 Sept. " II men to Claverick 

1 781 August " 9 men to Springfield 

1 781 March " 8 men to Springfield 

Quota of the town. 

1776 Jan. 19 II Men. 

1782 Mch. 7 4 Men. 
1780 Dec. 2 9 Men. 
1780 June 3 9 Men. 

1777 Jan. 26 22 Men in all being one seventh of the male 

inhabitants of the town (the town could 
supply but 21 men and was fined £100.) 

1777, Sept. 25. "Delivered to Adonijah How for Princeton 116 lbs. of 
Lead 90 Flints 4 Gun Locks" 
13. To this date delivered Princeton 54 Arms. 
13 Blankets 

10. Allowance to Zachariah Harvey "for Clothing Lost in a 
Retreat from before New York Sept. 1776 £6.18." 

to Jan. 1780 "Due for SuppHes for Soldiers families £306.19.5 

Capt. Boaz 



1779 Jan. 
1776 

1779, Sept, 

1776 Sept. 
1778, Oct. 



Clothing Supplied by town 
10 shirts at 8 Dollars each 24.0.0 
9 Pairs of Stockings 24/each 10. 16.0 
13 Pairs of Shoes 42 /each 27.6.0 62.2.0 



Moore carried 
these to Brook- 
field at an ex- 
pense of £1.16. 



238 



History of Princeton 



1780 Feb. 5. 


Clothing Supplied by town 




Shirts 


21 at 120 


/£i26. Shoes 21 at 144. £151.4.0 




Stockings 


21 at 8o/£84. 


Alice, to Selectmen £20.0.0 










£381.4.0 




1782, Jan 26. 


16 Shirts 


12/ 


£ 9. 12.0 






16 Shoes 


10/ 


8.0.0 






16 Hose 


6/ 


4. 16.0 






16 Miles 4 Da> 


^s 2.0.0 






8 Blankets 


9. 12.0 










£34.0.0 




1782, May. I 












10 Shirts at 40 


400. 






13 Shoes 


40 


520. 






9 Hose 


24 


216. 






20 Miles 




60 






4 Days 




84 






I 2oO. 00 




Account of Bounties 


Oct. 30, 1779. 




Timothy Mosman 




6 


Levi Wyman 


30 


John Bowen 




6 


Curtis Fowle 


25 


John Fowle 




25 


Eli Stearns 


30 


John Trask 




30 


Reuben Hudson 


30 


Oliver Mosman 




30 


Isaac Davis 


40 


Thomas Grant 




40 


William Vance 


45 


James Sawyer 




45 


William McMillan 


34 


John Wyman 




50 


1777 Peter Soloman 


30 


Samuel McMillan 




34 


Daniel Gray 


34 


Mathew Whittelow 


34 






Jonathan Tillotson 


34 






Jonathan Geary 




30 






Luther Parmenter 




20 







Account of Supphes Jan. i, 1780. 

Current Price 
Levi Wyman Apl. 1779 to Dec. 1779 £108.11.9 2.12.1! 

Jonathan Geary Mch. 1779 to Dec. 1779 164. 0.6 4.5.11 

1774, Aug. 9. Gill at Worcester Conv. of Committees of Correspondence 

& delegates. 
1774, Oct. Provincial Congress at Salem Gill Holden delegates. 
1776, Feb. " " " Cambridge " 

1776, May " " " Watertown " 



1775, Mch. 21. The town voted "not to procure a Cartridge Box & Bayonet 
for the Minute Men", but "to procure 72 Dollers for their acct.", 
"the Select Men be a Comm*' for s*^ purpose & that they procure the 
afores*^ Dollers immediately & give Security for the same, & that they 
deliver out s*^ money to each Man two DoUers." Voted " that 26 Men 



Military History 239 

agreable to the Report of a Comm*^* including officers be Intitled to 
the Money afores^ when they March." 

1 775) April 23. The town sent provisions to the army for which the sum of 
£18.15.7 was allowed. 

1775, May. 24. "Voted to receive 24 of the poor of Boston". How many 
of this class were actually received does not appear, but in 1776 the 
town received from the treasurer of the Province £30.15 for "keeping 
poor" and later "for Boston Poor" £10.18.11. 

177s, June 15. The towns were requested by Prov. Congress to deposit 
with treasurer firearms and bayonets the treasurer to pay for them and 
to be reimbursed by the Committee of Supplies. 

Princeton's quota 8 
1775, June 17. Same firelocks " " 8 

1775, June 30. Great want of Powder in public magazines and the towns of 
Hampshire and Worcester Counties being least exposed to the ravages 
of the enemy, earnestly recommended that the Selectmen deliver the 
whole of town stock of Powder to the Committee appointed by this 
Congress, except so much as is allowed to be kept in each town. 

Princeton town stock 15 bbls. to be kept \ bbl. 

1776, July 5. 13000 coats ordered to be provided and proportioned among 
the towns as they paid the last province tax — Princeton 24. 

1777 July 5. Committee of Safety "Eight guns collected in Princeton, 
were received of Mr. Ephraim Woolson by the hands of Sylvanus 
Oakes amomiting by appraisement to fourteen pounds seven shillings, 
for which a receipt was given him by the Secretary." 

1777 Salt to be distributed from public stores by Government, 42 bushels 
to Princeton at 10^ per bushel if wanted. 

1777, Proposals to build barracks at Rutland Dec. 19. 

1778, "Princeton December 28, 1778. Rec*^ of Maj'" Ebenezer Jones Lei* 
Robert Cowdin & Mr Abijah Harrington Fifty Pounds in Cash to 
purches Nine Small Arms at Boston of The board of warr. 

Moses GUI". 

1779, 121 pounds 3 shillings pd for transporting 30 bushels com from 
Westmoreland. 

1779, June 30. "then Rec^ of the Select men the Sum of one Hundred and 
twenty one pounds three shillings for transporting thirty Bushels of 
Indian Corn from Westmoreland to Princeton said corn was for them 
fameleys that were the Towns Care. 

pr. Elisha Gale" 

1780. Among the expenditures of the town this year are noted £4900. 
for five horses (£1400. for one horse) Corn at £10. per bushel, 
Butter £2/io/per lb. Board of school mistress £27. per week. All 
in the "depreciated currency." 



240 History of Princeton 

1782. Among the warrants drawn on the treasurer b 

to Sadey Mason for two pairs of Stockings for the Army 1 2 
Joseph Eveleth for three shirts i . 2 

Humfrey Moore for a horse for the Army 9. 10 

1782. Eph. Hartwell & Timothy Ruggles officers at Rutland Bar- 
racks for themselves and the Guards Oct. 20, '79 to Apl. 20 '80 peti- 
tioned for extra pay and allowance. 

"Which was the most vigorous and severe winter ever known in this 
Part of America, by Means of which Severity said officers & Guards 
were often destitute of the common necessaries of Life except Beef & 
Rice & were obliged often to furnish themselves with wood by draw- 
ing it by hand from a considerable Distance, &c." 

1783, Jan. Lt. Col. Benj. Holden petitioned Legislature for compensation 
on acct. of depreciation in value of money he having been taken 
prisoner Nov. 16, 1776, at Fort Washington & reed, his pay a long 
time after exchange. 

1783, July. Delinquent towns which have not procured their quotas of 
beef required by law 1781 &c. there were 3 calls. 
Princeton filled ist & 2nd but was deficient on 3rd 49 (?) valued at 

a 
16.4. 

1808. Paid Sam Stevenson for 100 weight Powder & five tin kittles 

for use of town $44.26 

181 1. Voted to buy 100 knapsacks. 

181 2. Old demands due town including class rates, notes of H. Gale 
and Committee to buy Soldiers &c. stricken out of Treasurer's account 

1814. Samuel Richardson & Charles Gregory from the East Company 

Jasen Woodward & W™ Johnson from the West Company 

were detached from the Militia & ordered to service marching to 

Northboro Aug. i, 1814. Oliver Davis took Mr. Woodward's 

place. Samuel Richardson sent Willard Houghton as substitute. 

Charles Gregory and Wm Johnson received grants of bounty land 
in recognition of their military service. 
1814, Nov. 7. Voted to J. M., S. R., W. J., & C. G. $36. each additional 

sum to the wages of the soldiers detatched in July last 
1830-40 One Company called Slam-bangs Capt. Smith, Temple, Dana, 
Osgood " Independent Co." Capt. John Whitney — I. Hartwell. 
An Ace* of Sundry Articles lost on Charlestown Hills 17*^ June 1775 
by Capt. John Jones Company. Col. Eph™ Doolittle's Reg*. 
Daniel Haws wounded lost his Cartridge box £ 0.4 

Jabez Gerould wounded lost his Gun 2 . 8 

Jabez Maynard Samuel Temple, Ichabod Farrington 
& Joseph Bailey lost each a Blanket 12/p Blanket 2.8 

Jonas (Jesse ?) Fisher a Bayonet 0.6 

Curtis Fowle a Sword .12 



Errors Excepted 

Attested John Jones Capt. 



5-iJ 



Military History 241 

The Captain certifies that "they fought on Bunker's Hill on the 
17**^ of June & fought courageously, but unfortunately lost the articles 
mentioned." 

The following is a Return of the hire & bounty which has been ad- 
vanced by the Town of Princeton for the purpose of hiring men for the 
Army for the term of three years, which were Required by a Resolve 
of the General Court of the 2°^ of Decern"" 1780 — 
To Levi Parker £ 30 . o. hard money 

To James Thomson 300. 

To Ephr"" Norcross 30.0. 

To Sam' Ball 30.0. 

To Ben j** Stearns 30.0. 

To Thomas Rowan 30.0. 

To James Rowan 30 . o. 

To John Rowan 30.0. 



£ 240 



And to each of the above mentioned Soldiers Twelve three year Old 
Cattle estimated at £6.0. Each which Amounts to £576.0.0 
To Jonas Beaman One hundred hard Dollars and thirteen three year 
Old Cattle Estimated at £6. Each £78.0 

hard money 30. 



£ 108. 



Also the Eight Soldiers first mention'^ are Entitled to one horned 
Creature three years Old, Each, by Agreement of the Committee 
although it is not mention*^ in their Receipts. 

which Amounts to £48 . o . hard money 

Also the Aboves^'^ Encouragement in Cash was Engaged to be sent to 
Camp to the Soldierz, at Two Different times, which Journeys we 
Estimate at £50 

The whole Cost Amounts to £1022.0.0 
Errorz Excepted 

The above men are averag'd Benj^ Holden | Selectmen 

on the whole cost which is Sadey Mason [ of 

£113:11.12 each Boaz Moore ) Princeton 

Wore. S. S. July 3 1781. the above named Benj° Holden Sady Mason 
& Boaz Moore Came before me and make Oath to the Truth of the 
above account 

Moses Gill Justice Peace 
Princeton July 4*** 1781 — 
The original receipts Signed by these Soldiers are on file 



242 History of Princeton 

Letter of Capt. John Jones to his Wife Mary in Princeton. 

See facsimile framed in Princeton Library. 

Cambridge Apr. 22, 1775 
Loving Wife. 

There was a hot Battle fought Between the Regulars that 
march'd to Concord and our People on Wednesday the 19 of this 
Instant in which many on both sides were slain (but most of the 
Enimies) as we heard before we march'd. As we marched to Con- 
cord we were often Inform'd that the Enemy had marched from 
Boston a second time & had got as far as Lincoln — we hurried 
on as fast as Possible Expecting to meet them in Concord, but 
when we arrived there we were Liformed that they had Return 
from their first engagement to Charleston — from which they 
are gone to Boston — we are now Stationed in one of ye Colleges 
as are many more of ye Army — all in good health Through ye 
Divine goodness and hope for the Blessing of Heaven. In ye 
first Combat among those that were slain were Lieut. John 
Bacon of Needham two Mills's. Nat. Chamb'n and two others 
from Needham, Elias Haven from Springfield. 

If you have an Opportunity you may send Brother Hapgood 
a Shirt and a Pair of stockings. — Tis uncertain when we shall 
Return may we all be enabled to Repent and to turn to our God 
that he may save us from Ruin. 

I am with the Greatest Respect your 

Affectionate & Loving Husband till Death 

John Jones 

N.B. My Best Love to Brother Jones & Children — Let us 
all be Patient & Remember that it is ye hand of God. 

Capt. Moore has Sold his flaxseed but if you apply in season 
you may get some of Mr. Wood. 

Captain Jones remained in the army some time, and 
died at Crown Point on that memorable day, Jtily 4, 1776, 
aged 33. 

TO THE COUNCIL 

"The petition of Joseph Tame, Thos. Mitchell, James Ellis, 
James Lack, James Arch, Benj. White of Brittain, and James 
Stuart native of Ireland. — 

Humbly Sheweth. — That your Petioners desended from 
Credible Parents, and was Provided with such an Education as 
the nature of their station would admit of. That through 
unexperience in age and the arts of Designing men they ware 
Hurried into the service of the King of Great Brittian, and came 
to Quebec and was Captavated with Troops under the Command 
of General Burgoyne and marched down to Cambridge agreeable 
to the Stipulation with General Gates. 



Military History 243 

That your Petitioners soon found the service not only dis- 
agreeable to them but founded in principles both cruel and 
unjust, and Therefore determined to leave the service and 
actually took the first favorable opportunity to quit a station 
they could no longer hold with satisfaction to their own minds, 
and have been resident in Princeton in the County of Worcester 
for near Two years, in all which Time they hope their Conduct 
has been such as to merit the esteem of their worthy Neighbors. 
That your Petitioners are detirmined by leave from your Honour' 
to become Inhabitants of this State and are willing to be Sub- 
jected to all the rules and orders thereof and willing to take up 
arms in Defence thereof when called thereto by lawful Authority. 

Your petitioners Therefore most humbly prays that they may 
be admitted to take the oath of allegiance and fidelity to These 
States and by an act of Government be made the Naturelized 
Subjects thereof, subject to all the rules and enjoy all the ad- 
vantages arising therefrom agreeable to their most earnest wish 
as it will Confirm them in A Happy Situation and Prevent their 
being put to Death if they should be obliged to return and your 
Petitioners as in duty Bound shall ever Pray. 

his 

Joseph X Tame 

mark 

Thomas Mitchell of Brittian 

James Lack 

James Arch 

James Ellis 

Benjamin White 1 r t 1 a 
T -^ c* 4. f 01 Ireland 

James Stuart j 

Jan. 24, 1780. 

The Selectmen of Princeton endorsing this petition stated, 
"they have for a Considerable time been Resident in this place, 
and for ought we know, have Conducted themselves agreeable 
to what is set forth in the within Petition, and have been Recom- 
mended by the persons with whom they Reside to be industrious 
persons and no strollers, and have Conducted themselves pru- 
dently in General." The Council ordered " that they be per- 
mitted to reside in the Town of Princeton and to follow their 
several occupations and to remain there till the further order of 
Council — They engaging to be of good behavior in the mean 
Time." 

Mr. Lack and Mr. Arch remained in town several years, and 
Mr. Ellis became a permanent resident. He was a manufacturer 
of door latches, which were stamped with the initials L E. 
Joseph Baker was also one of the 300 Burgoyne Soldiers who 
escaped. He married and lived for nearly forty years on the 
C. S. Mirick place, raised a family of five children, removing to 
Guilford, N. Y. in 1827. (See page 8, vol. 11.) 



244 



History of Princeton 



ijgi. "Account of the Town Stock of Ammunition, 

At M"" Paul Matthews loo lb Powder 150 lb Lead. 

At Dea"* Hows 114 lb Lead 80 flints 

At Maj"" Jn*' Mathews — Powder — Lead — Flints." 

{Town Records) 

Muster Roll of Capi Atid'w Whitney's Company, May 6, i'/g4 



Capt. An'w Whitney 
Lieut. Stephen Mirick 
Ensign Eb'r Hobbs 
Sargt. Henery Printis 

" William Everit 

*' Hoten Osgood 
Drum Ezra Hastings 

" John Everit 
Fifer Moses Gould 
Corpl. Caleb Mirick, Jr. 

" Benjamin Herrington 

" John Brooks 

" Quincy Parker 

" Samuel Mirick 

" Jones 

" John Roper 



Corpl. Solomon P. Parker 

" John Mirick 

" Samuel Richardson 

" Amos Sargant 

" Daniel Cheevors 

" Eliphas Coplin 

" John Herris 

" Isaac Rice 

" Ephraim Keys 

" Joshua Everit, Jr. 

" Jesse Sawing 

" John Bartlett 

" James Brown 

" Thoma Wymon 

" Artemas Willard 

" John Hunt 



June 1794 The Selectmen "discharged from the roll Obadiah Thacher on 
account of his being a miller" 

{Company Records) 

1794. Sept 24 

"Voted that in Case the minute men viz.: 

Lieut Asa Brigham 1 Ser*^ William Everet 

Cor' John Fisher j Ser* Houghton Osgood 



G 

a 
S 

o 

U 



Aaron Willard 
Soloman Wilson 
Aaron Livermore 
David Hoyt 
George Hogney 
Levi Harris 
Josiah Richardson 
Joel Newton 
Joel Holden 
Viah Franklin 

Should be Call*^ upon to 
Continental wages to such 
Town for such Services." 



Ephraim Davis 
Nathaniel Hastings 
Caleb Mirick 
Benjamin Harrington 
John Brooks 
Charles Mirick 
Theophilus Eveleth 
William Whitteker Ju^ 
Elijah Wilds 
Nathan Munroe 
March that the Town will agment their 
sumes as are useally given by the ajasants 

{Towjt Records) 

1798. Septer. "Voted that the Selectmen provide a suitable Chest made 
of Boards one and one Quarter thick with a suflicient Lock on the same 
Large enough to contain the town Stock of Ammunition and that they 
lay a floor in the Herse House, and deposit the Chest and Ammunition 
therein under a Lock as soon as may be." 

{Town Records) 



Military History 245 

1799. May 6. "Voted that the Selectmen cause a number of Cartridges 
sufficient to equipt each training Soldier to be made at the expense of 
the town, out of the Powder & balls Provided by the town." 

181 1. May 6 Voted "for Knapsacks to be bought & Delivered to Com- 
manding officer of each Company for use of soldiers on days of Training 
& returned at night." 



How I Found Oliver Mosman 

In my endeavor to learn what became of the Revolu- 
tionary soldiers who went from Princeton, I spent several 
months looking for some hint of Oliver Mosman, examin- 
ing every book I thought might bring information about 
him; this was without avail until one day I was glancing 
at the books on the shelves of a certain library, when I was 
attracted to the title of a bibliography of Bunker Hill. 
This proved to be a publication of Mr. Hunnewell's of 
Charleston, which included the names of all the books 
known to him, referring to the battle of Bunker Hill. In 
this volume I found to my surprise, the title of a pamphlet, 
Bunker Hill Battle, by Oliver Mosman, indicated as being 
in the possession of the Congressional Library. Upon 
application to the library I found the book was missing, 
altho it is said to have been found. I felt very sure this 
must be our Oliver Mosman. I could not think it probable 
that there were in this battle two of the same name, so 
my next efforts were directed to finding a copy of it. I 
wrote to a business acquaintance at Watertown, N. Y., 
suggesting that he might find some one who was interested 
in it, among his friends at Sacketts' Harbor. The place 
of publication was located near his residence. I soon 
received the reply that he had given my letter to someone 
who would probably give the information desired. To my 
surprise I found he had put the letter into the hands of the 
grandson of Oliver Mosman. From the letter I received 
particulars of Mr. Mosman's life, family, and death at 
Henderson, N. Y. He also sent me for examination, a 
printed copy of the pamphlet, of which there appeared to 
be only four copies extant. 



246 History of Princeton 

Repeated efforts have been made to purchase a copy, 
without success. Lately, one James J. Mosman, of 
Chicago, connected with the family, has proposed giving 
one to the Princeton library. Thus ended a long search 
for some information about the man. There is no doubt 
this is the Princeton Mosman, as he makes the statement 
in his book that he was born in Princeton in 1760. Later 
I attempted to identify the place where he lived. I knew 
the Mosmans' lived somewhere in the neighborhood of 
Mayhew's farm. Of this farm I was anxious to trace the 
boundaries. 

On finding reference in the deed, to a wall in the brook I 
had curiosity to see what could be found in the vicinity. 
With a friend, I went to the supposed location, and to my 
surprise I found the brook, running on the course indicated 
by the deed, and an intersecting wall running at a right 
angle with a pier supporting the two walls. The course of 
the walls remaining in that vicinity were just what was 
needed to enable me to trace without difficulty the bound- 
aries of Mayhew's farm. The remains of an old cellar 
hole and door stone led me to wonder whether the old 
Morsman house was found, but with this I could prove 
nothing. 

The Shays Rebellion. — How many Princeton men were 
openly engaged in this movement we have no means of 
determining, but there is no doubt that a large number 
of the inhabitants were in sympathy with the object, 
while a few were prominent among the leaders. 

Of the latter were Captain Abraham Gale, Henry Gale, 
Lieutenant Joseph Sargent, and Norman Clark, all of 
whom had seen service during the Revolution. Among 
those equally in sympathy, but not so prominent, were 
David Rice, Soloman Rice, and Jacob Morse among the 
" Insurgents," and many others, some of them holding 
important positions in the town government, who could 
not consistently say that they had been " on the side of the 
Government during the unhappy tumult." No one now 
doubts that all had equally the good of the people in view 



Military History 247 

however much their judgment as to methods of relief may 
be questioned. 

Capt. Abraham Gale, was in command of one com- 
pany of " regulators " and marched from Princeton to 
Worcester with sixty men on the 21st of November, 1786, 
" to prevent the Courts from doing business." This pro- 
ceeding identified him with the leaders of the movement, 
which position he maintained for several months. 

He was with Shays and his followers at Pelham, Feb. 3, 
and when they took flight, he was wounded by a kick from 
the horse of Shays and was unable to proceed. He, who- 
ever, overtook them at Warwick and was of the number 
who escorted Shays beyond the bounds of the State. 

In 1787, a warrant was issued for his arrest, but he had 
the good fortune to escape capture.* Subsequently he took 

* Worcester Ss the Commonwealth of Massachusetts — 

To the sheriffs of the county of Worcester his under sheriff or Deputy 
or either of the Constables of the town of Princeton in the said county of 
Worcester — 

Because Abraham Gale late of Princeton in the County of Worcester, on 
the second day of April in the year of our Lord 1787 before me Ephriam Wood- 
son Esq., one of the Justices of the peace for the said county of Worcester 
acknowledged that he was indebted to John Russell of Princeton in the County 
of Worcester trader in the sum of fourteen shillings and eleven pence which 
he ought to have paid on the second day of April last and there now appears 
to be due the sum of fourteen shillings and eleven pence 

We command you therefore that of the goods chattels or real estate of said 
Gale within your precinct you cause to be paid and satisfied unto the said 
Russell at the value thereof in money above mentioned the aforesaid sum of 
fourteen shillings and eleven pence together with eleven shillings and eleven 
pence cost of process and one shilling and eight pence for this writ and therefor 
also to satisfy yourself your own lawful fees and for want of goods chattels 
or real estate of said Gale to be found within your precinct to the acceptance 
of said Russell, to satisfy the sums aforesaid and your said fees, 

we command you to take the body of the said Gale and him commit unto 
our Gaol in our county of Worcester aforesaid these to be detained in the said 
Gaol until he pay the full sums above mentioned with your said fees or that 
the said Gale be discharged by the said Russell the creditor, or otherwise by 
order of law Hereof fail not and make return of this writt with your doings 
therein unto the above named Ephr'" Woolson within ninety days next 
coming. 

Witness to said Ephraim Woolson at Princeton the twenty second day of 
May in the year of our Lord 1787. 



248 History of Princeton 

the oath of allegiance, and soon after removed to New 
Hampshire. 

Warrants were also issued for the arrest of Norman 
Clark, who lived in the west part of the town near the 
Gales's, and for Lt.-Col. Joseph Sargent, whose tavern was 
the resort of many sympathizers, but both successfully 
eluded the officers. 

Captain Henry Gale was not as fortunate as the others, 
perhaps because he was more bold in his movements, or 
made no attempt at concealment, though he is reported as 
saying that he was fearful the " light horse " would capture 
him. We are, however, inclined to think that the arrest of 
Henry alarmed his brother Abraham and the others above- 
named, giving them time to escape. 

In 1775, Mr. Gale was living at Ward (Auburn), from 
whence at the Lexington alarm he marched to Cambridge. 
He also served in the army in 1777, participating in the 
victory over Burgoyne's forces. About 1778, he removed 
to Princeton, where he attained a good social position, and 
identified himself with the affairs of the town. He is said 
to have been a man of good education, well informed, and 
" after the close of the Revolution joined heartily in the 
discussions of the day, how an independent but bankrupt 
State might be galvanized into life, and a circulating 
medium in the shape of money established." 

In the earliest movements of the " Regulators " of 
Worcester County, he was conspicuous and assumed com- 
mand of a company composed in a great measure of his 
neighbors and friends, marching into Worcester in Sep- 

The town record further shows that in addition to the original debt of 
£0, 14^ 11*^ there was added cost of process, cost of this writ, Justices' fees, 
Appraisers' fees, and Sheriff's fees, £2, 2^ 8*^. 

It required the services of Ephraim Woolson, lawyer, for the swearing of 
two appraisers, Michael Gill, Esq., and Capt. John Watson, and Michael Gill 
swore in Ephraim Woolson, Esq. Woolson was chosen by Russell and Michael 
Gill and John Watson by the Deputy Sheriff Elisha Allen. (They were re- 
ferred to as "three Disinterested and Discret men being freeholders.") They 
"set of!" to said Russell seven feet and one third of a foot of a pew in the 
meeting house, next to the part previously set off to John Dana. 

Vol. 2, Page 41, 42 Town Records. 



Military History 249 

tember, 1786, and taking possession of the grounds about 
the Court house. 

We have no positive statement as to his whereabouts 
until the following January, but it is probable that he 
returned to Princeton, keeping up, however, communica- 
tion with Shays and his men, and often visiting neighboring 
towns where there were many sympathizers. From the 
testimony of many of his acquaintances it, appears that he 
was convinced of the error of his ways, and would have 
gladly put himself right with the Government but for the 
influence of some of his associates, although it is somewhat 
questionable whether this change occurred until the tide 
of popular feeling had turned in favor of the authorities. 

On Sunday, the 29th of January, as we learn from the 
statement of his neighbor. Captain Boaz Moore, he re- 
turned to Princeton " with a Design not to Join the 
Insurgents again at Present, and meant to keep about his 
Business at Home." In pursuance of this commendable 
purpose, he was present at a town meeting the following 
Wednesday, February ist, participating in the business of 
the hour. But the Sheriff had other plans for Mr. Gale, 
and upon that day he was arrested and immediately 
conveyed to Boston and there confined in jail. In April 
following he petitioned the Governor and Council to be 
released on bail, which request was at first refused, but on 
the 1 2th of April his release was ordered upon giving bonds 
in the sum of £200. to appear at the next term of the 
Supreme Judicial Court. It is quite likely that two of his 
neighbors, Messrs. Thompson and Savage became his 
sureties, as early in April they visited Boston, for that 
special purpose, bearing a letter from Judge Gill, commend- 
ing them as " being amply sufificient security." 

The Court convened on the 25th of April, and the trial 
of Mr. Gale soon after commenced, eminent council being 
assigned him. We have no record of the testimony given 
in behalf of the Government, but a portion of that for the 
defence is preserved and throws some light upon the sub- 
ject. One witness testified that he heard some of the 



250 History of Princeton 

Insurgents say that " Gale was as good a Government man 
as any there was." 

Testimony of various individuals, about Henry Gale. 
Phineas Flagg testified. 

" That about the twentieth of January last I went to 
Convince the Insurgents of their Error and persuade them 
to their Duty, and found Henry Gale, the Late convict, at 
Capt. Gales at Princeton, and in Conversation found him 
convinced of his Error and willing to Return to his Duty if 
a door Could be opened therefor, and wished me to stay 
till other officers could meet at Hubbardston, at Clark's 
tavern. Accordingly did so, and found some of the 
prensiple offercis there, sd Henery still appeared to want 
to Returne to his Duty I Left them and Returned Home 
about the 23d. Went again to Princeton found s'^ Henery 
at Col. Sergents, went from there to Miricks tavern in s*^ 
princeton where finding s*^ Henery with a number of 
offircers s'^ Henery said he would signe any paper uncondi- 
tionaly and said for Gods sake don't Leve us till something 
is done and said if others would not he would for he would 
not stay with them. " 

Capt. John Holland: 

" In December Last on Satterday Evening before the 
Court of Common Pleas at Worcester that henry Gail of 
prinston was at my house in Sutton and in Conversation 
with s*^ gail he said he wished the people had Not have Rose 
to stop Courts the Question being asked him Why they Did 
not all stay at home he said they Ware afraid he was told 
their was an act of indemnity passed by the General Court 
he said for his part he should be glad to imbrace it but he 
was afraid the Light hors would Take him and Abuse him 
as they Did Capt. Chattuck. On Sundy Evening following 
I saw the s*^ henry Gale in Sutton and Adam Wheeler of 
hubardston and others from hubardston and prinston they 
Wase then a going to take the ground Round the Court 
house in Worcester but Gail apered to be vary Loth to go 
with them they Told him he had better go with them for 
their is No Safety here for they said if they Did Not git 



Military History 251 

all together they should be taken, gale s^ they had better 
Not go for it was the best way the matter Setled befor they 
went any further." 

Abel Chase testified that at Hubbardston Gale said "it 
was an unhappy affair " and " wisht it mite be settled and 
professed he was willing to do anything that mite be thought 
Resonable to settel the matter "...." it was remarked 
that Gale apered most sick of the job than any of them." 

Some others testified that they believed the only reason 
" why he did not comply was the unwillingness of the 
others." 

The trial resulted as was probably expected, in his 
conviction of high treason and rebellion, and on the nth of 
May he was sentenced to death, Thursday the 21st of June, 
being named as the date of his execution. He was re- 
manded to the jail in Worcester, from which on the 4th of 
June he sent the following petition for pardon. The paper 
has the appearance of being written by Mr. Gale himself. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts 
This Excellency John Hancock, Esq'" 
Governor and Commander in chief of said Commonwealth; 
and to the Honourable Council of the Same. 

The Petition of Henry Gale of Princeton in the 
County of Worcester a Convict who is under Sentance of 
Death in the Goal in Said County 

Humbly Shews 
That Your Petitioner Ignorant of the Consequences 
of an Opposition to the lawful Authority and of the Nature 
of Rebellion, did by the Arts and Instigation of Some of 
his Neighbours (in whom he placed confidence), appear at 
Worcester with others to Stop the Setting of the Court of 
Justice there. — Ant not attending to the Banefull Evil 
of his Conduct Did Continue to Side with those who 
Opposed the Authority and Government of this Common- 
wealth untill the Month of January last; When your 
Petitioner, Convinced of his folly and Wickedness, did 
Return home to Submit himself to the Lawfull Authority, 



252 History of Princeton 

and to the Mercy of that Government he had so Grossly 
affronted. 

That upon Your Petitioners Return he was taken by 
Virtue of a State Warrant and Committed to Goal in 
Boston, where after Remaining Some Weeks, He was 
through the Clemency of the then Governour and Council, 
permitted to Return home upon Bail. 

That When the Supreme Judicial Court did Set at 
Worcester at the last Term your Petitioner was Indited, 
tried and Condemned for High Treason and Received 
Sentence of Death for the same. 

Your Petitioner feels no Enmity towards the Jury, nor 
does he arain the Wisdom and Justice of the Court; but 
Acknowledges the Justice of his Sentance; And lays him- 
self at the feet of that Authority, who only can Constitu- 
tionally Save his life, and pleads for that Mercy he has so 
Justly forfeited. 

He Prays that your Excellency and Your Honours in 
Your Great Wisdom and Justly acknowledged Goodness 
would be pleased to Pardon Your Destressed Petitioner 
Who has Aged Parents bowed with Grief, and should he 
fail in his Application, their Grey Heads will Go Down with 
Sorrow to the Grave. 

Your Petitioner has a Wife and a number of Promising 
Children pained with Grief and Anxious for his Welfare. 

Your Petitioner again Most humbly prays he may be 
Pardoned. Your Excellency and Your Honours will there- 
by Save a Soul from Death, and hide a Multitude of Sins. 
And his life thus Spared shall be Devoted to the Service 
and Support of Government, whos Destinguishing Char- 
acteristick is Mercy and Clemency. And these Children 
shall be taught to speak of the Honour and to Support the 
Dignity of this Commonwealth. And all shall Join fer- 
vently to pray, that Your Administration may be easey to 
Yourselves, and happy to the Community over whome you 
do worthyly Preside; That you may enjoy Peace of Mind 
here, and at Last Receive that Crown and Diadem which 
fadeth not away. 



Military History 253 

And your Petitioner, as in Duty bound, shall ever pray. 

(signed) Henry Gale. 
Worcester Goal, June 4th, 1787. 

State Archives, Vol. 189, page 395. 
Massachusetts Gazette 1787, page 195. 
The petition of his sorrowing wife is also worthy of a 
place here. 

To his Excellency James Bowdoin Esq"^ Governor and 
Commander in Chief of the Commonwealth of Massachu- 
setts and the Honrable the council of the same. 

The Petition of Betty, the wife of Henry Gale who is 
now under Sentance of death Sollisits the Goodness and 
Clemency of Your Excellency and Honors, for his Pardon. 
There is not the least doubt but that an Application from 
one in whome all the tender Sensibillities of humanity are 
interested, will meet with a favorable Reception by Gentle- 
men of your distinguished and eminent Charracters. A 
husband devoted to death, with a number of Children, 
helpless and Indigent, depending upon the industry of 
there father for the necessary Supplies of life, who attentive 
to the manafest anguish of their Mother, catch the im- 
motions of her heart, and mingle their instinctive tears of 
Sympathy, which flow with little interruption, and add 
new pangs to the agonies of grief occasioned by the melan- 
choly prospect before her, are scenes too distressing for 
one to dwell on and too gloomy for Descreption. 

It becomes not me to attempt to extenuate the guilt of 
my unfortunate Husband, but I must testify to the Recti- 
tude of his heart the inmost Recesses whereof, I have had 
greater aoportunity to penetrate, than any other mortal on 
the earth. He, indeed, was lead astray, to adopt measurs 
dangerous and destructive in their consequences, of which 
he had not the least apprehension, as I firmly believe, and 
as he has often declared. 

But previous to his imprisonment, many days before the 
flight of Shays from Pelham, he was fully convinced of his 
error, returned to his ordanary Occupation and declared 



254 History of Princeton 

he was resolved by his future Submission and peaceable 
behavior to make all the attonement in his Power for his 
past misconduct. 

With a heart disolved in grief and distracted with 
anxiety and fear I would humbly and ardently Supplicate 
your attention to my wretched Situation : Your own feeling 
will suggest and plead for my misery, and your Compassion 
and goodness will wish to extend relief and your wisdom 
dictate the conditions, the mode, and degree in which it 
may exhibited. 

Your Excellency and Honors character are so respectible 
and conspicuous, that you are well known to be susceptible 
to all the most tender feelings of humanity and the irresist- 
ible force of conjugal affection and parental love which 
assures your humble Supplicant that you would wish to 
avoid the extremes of Rigor; and if the good and safety of 
Government will permit, would cheerfully extend a pardon 
to the unfortunate victim. For which purpose I now have 
recourse to your clemency and implore your merciful 
interposition to Save a Soul from Death compose the 
anxious Sollicitude of an unhappy but guiltless Wife and 
Children, and to rescue them from impending Ruin. I 
cannot persuade myself that the exercise of the divine 
Prerogative rested in you, the power of Pardoning offences, 
the brightest Gem in the Diadem of Kings, and the darling 
attribute of Heaven, in the present Case will be productive 
of consequences dangerous to society. 

Could it be of any avail, I could willingly Pledge my 
own life as a security for his quiet and peaceable Behavior 
in future, being fully assured that he was convinced of the 
error of his conduct in opposing the course of Justice, on 
principles of reason. Separate from the apprehension of 
Danger, and that he was firmly resolved to return to the 
duty of his alligance, even before the flight of Shays, & 
which must be abundantly confirmed by the complicate 
Sufferings, which, the justice of Government has since, cal'd 
him to endure. 

Your miserable Supplicant again prostrates herself before 



Military History 255 

your Excellency and Honors on behalf of the convict, and 
his deplorable family, and with a heart pierced with agoniz- 
ing grief and in tears, implores your mercifull intercention 
and clemency. But whether her application Shall meet 
with Success or not. She is certain you must pity her dis- 
tress, and whether her wretchedness already too great for 
her feeble frame long to Support, Shall be alleviated or 
encreased it Shall ever be her prayer to Heaven, that none 
of you may ever want the comforts which she sollisits and 
which is now in your power to bestow on your distressed 
petti tioner. 

(signed) Betty Gale. 

(State Archives Vol. 189, page 409.) 

A similar petition of the parents of Mr. Gale, Josiah and 
Elizabeth Gale of Princeton is an earnest and tender appeal 
for mercy. 

Petition of Josiah and Elizabeth Gale. 

" We have brought up a large Family of Children and 
attended to their Education with all the Tenderness of 
parental Affection, supported them in Infancy & submitted 
to a great Variety of Disquietudes & Fatigues on their 
Account hoping to derive Consolation from them in the 
decline of Life. 

We have seen some of them in Danger, Anxiety & Pain, 
in Sorrow, Sickness & Death whereby we have been called 
to spend wearisome Days & Wakeful Nights; But we can 
now say with mournful Accent, that we never before had 
seen affliction." 

In addition to these there are many others on file, all of 
similar import, signed by scores of citizens of Worcester 
County. Two of these papers bear the signatures of 158 
persons, many of them Mr. Gale's townsmen. 

Humbly Shews. 

The Petition of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Town 
of Princeton and other Towns in the County of Worcester, 
in behalf of Henry Gale of the same Princeton, who is now 
under sentence of Death in said County. That though 



256 History of Princeton 

your Petitioners have been on the side of Government in 
the late unhappy Tumults and some of them have Risqud 
their Lives in Defense of the Constitution they are happily 
placed under; yet the feelings Raised in their Breasts by 
the Distresses of the Convicts Family, urge them to 
themselves on his behalf, and to Implore your Excellency 
and your honours to extend the Clemency of Government 
to him. 

He has been very active in the former Stages of the 
Insurrection, as we have understood; But when the 
Popular Clamour had in some Degrees subsided, and he 
had time to Recollect himself, he came to a full Determina- 
tion (as we believe) to Return to the Duty of his Allegiance. 

Your Petitioners understand he has not been in Arms 
out of this County; that before the Insurgents (under the 
Guidance of Daniel Shays) left Pelham, he was at home, 
attending to his ordinary Business (and as we believe) 
Sincerely Repented of the Part he had acted. 

Your Petitioners have no doubt but that should a Pardon 
be extended to him ; he will make for the future a quiet and 
Peaceable Citizen. 

He has a Family whose welfare Depends upon his 
Industry for their subsistence; But should an Entire 
Pardon be Incompatable with the Good and Safety of 
Government, perhaps his life might yet be spared. 

Your Petitioners are by no means Friends to Rebellion 
and thy would not Subscribe to a Petition in favour of the 
Principle Traitors in this County who have made their 
Escape, But for one who had Repented and for a man 
situated as this is, we Venture to Implore the Clemency of 
your Excellency and your Honours. 
May 7, 1787. 

Signed by 76 persons mostly of Princeton. 

If the excitement was great in Princeton at the time of 
the assembling of the Regulators in Worcester and else- 
where, it certainly was not lessened by the arrest, con- 
viction and sentence of one of their own townsmen. Al- 



Military History 257 

though he had not resided in the town many years, yet he 
was well known and his influence established and their 
sympathies for him and for his family were fully aroused. 
Ev^ery effort that could be suggested was made for his 
pardon, or at least for a commutation of his sentence, but 
apparently without avail. 

On the day appointed he was taken from the jail in 
Worcester to the common, where the gallows had been 
erected, amidst the excited crowds of interested spectators 
and sympathizers. When all was ready for the execution 
the Sheriff announced to the prisoner and to the public that 
a reprieve to the 2d of August had been granted, and Mr. 
Gale was returned to the jail. 

" On Thursday last week Henry Gale the prisoner in 
gaol in this town, under sentence of Death for Treason, was 
carried to a gallows erected on the Common, and there 
reprieved to the second day of August next." 
Massachusetts Gazette, June, 1787. 

When on the i6th of June this reprieve for Gale and 
others, was determined upon by the Council, the Sheriffs 
were directed " not to communicate to any person the 
determination of the Council until the subjects are brot 
to the place where they were to have been executed & then 
to make the same as publick as may be." 

The town of Princeton soon after this added its request 
for his pardon, the same appearing in full in the Massachu- 
setts Gazette in July, 1787. 

The Rev. Timothy Fuller carried this petition to Boston 
at an expense of 13 shillings for himself and 6s. 8d. for 
Uriah Moore's horse (Town Papers). 

" A treasurers warrant to Timothy Fuller for his going 
to Boston to prefer the Town's petition in behalf of Henry 
Gale by vote of the Town 0.13.0. Uriah Moore for his 
horse to Boston for Mr. Fuller as above 0.6.8." 

The Government appeared to question the wisdom of 
carrying out the extreme measures, and the longer the delay 
the more the excitement was subsiding. On the 25th of 
July, Mr. Gale was again reprieved to the 20th of Septem- 



258 History of Princeton 

ber, and on the 12th of September was fully pardoned, and 
was discharged from custody on Sunday the i8th, probably 
the happiest day of his life. He returned to his home in 
Princeton, where having the confidence of his fellow towns- 
men, he resumed his former positions of trust and service. 

Mr. Gale remained in Princeton until 1790 when he 
removed to Barre, Vt., where he was highly respected. 
Subsequently he went to Brighton, N. Y., to reside with his 
son where he died August 13, 1836, aged 84. He was a 
recipient of a pension for his services in the Revolution.^ 

The following is a List of the Persons Belonging to the 

Town of Princeton who ware in the Late Rebellion which 

have Taken the oath of allegiance Before me 

Amos Gale Returned his Pistel Josiah Chase Returned his firearm 

Sypren Keyes Nathaniel Andrews 

Josiah Gale Jason Hoyt 

Pebody Keyes Daniel Cheever 

Ehsha Gale Artimas Newton 

Israel Keyes Oliver Davis 

Asa Brigham Returned his firearm David Davis Returned his firearms 

William Bordman Isaac Thomson Returned his firearm 

Samuel Bartlet Uriah Newton 

Uriah Moore Returned his firearm Theodore Gibbs 

Jesse Fisher Returned his firearm 

March ye 23*^^^ 1787 According to my Directions I have 
sent you the above Said List 

Asa Whetcomb Jus*" of peace 

' The "Oath of allegiance" subscribed to by several prominent men of the 
town, and recorded in the second volume of town records, belongs to the period 
of Shay's Rebellion 1784-7 not 1774 or 177s as stated by the publications of 
Mr. Russell and Mr. Hanaford, in both of whose histories the document is 
copied. 

Sadey Mason 
. Benj. Holden 
. Eben'^ Parker 
. W"' Dodds 

Enoch Brooks 
. Saml. Woods 
Boaz Moore 
. W"^. Thompson 
. Humphrey Moore 
. Jonas Smith 
Names marked . appear on petition for pardon of Gale. 



Military History 259 

Treating. Between 1820 and 1840, there were a number 
of companies of militia in town, but the rolls have been 
lost. In visiting the town as a young man, I used to 
wonder at the number of Captains and Majors, until the 
existence of so many companies was learned. There were 
four at least, at one time, I believe. One can imagine 
what excitement was in town, on the days of parade. 
The only item of interest relating to these companies is 
the following: 

"The Committee chosen by the Light Infantry Com- 
pany, to consider the expediency of dispensing with the 
practice of treating the Company, by the officers, have had 
that subject under consideration, and ask leave to Report: 
That they have reason to regret that the practice was ever 
introduced into the Light Infantry Company in Princeton. 
They believe from what information they have been able 
to obtain, that the practice has become obsolete in most, if 
not all of the Light Infantry Companies in the Regiments, 
throughout the Commonwealth. Your Committee are 
aware of the generosity of the present officers of the Com- 
pany, and also of those who have preceeded them, and of 
their readiness whenever the company has been called out, 
upon all occasions, to display their generosity and from 
the manner in which it has been manifested, your committee 
are also aware that the expense must have been great. 

"Your committee are not opposed to the practice be- 
cause they think the officers are not both able and willing 
to treat the Company; nor because they believe that the 
Company may not, when under the hardships and toils of 
a drill, refresh themselves with spirituous liquor, and be 
respectible officers, temperate men, and good soldiers; but 
it is to the principle and the president that your committee 
look — although as your Committee have before suggested 
the present officers of the Company are able and willing, it 
is presumed, to continue in the present practice, yet the 
time may come when the office may chance to fall on some 
of our associates, less able than the present officers, and 
should the practice be kept up the expense and hardship 



26o History of Princeton 

would be so great that many, perhaps, as a matter of 
economy, would be led to refuse an office, and by that 
means the best tallent in the the company might be lost. 
It is not however the purpose of your committee to discuss 
upon the question submitted for their considaration. 

" It is presumed by your committee that it has long been 
the wish of every member of the company to relieve the 
officers from this burden, and that there is not an individual 
member of the company who would not rather cast in his 
mite, or appropriate a small pittance of his rations towards 
defraying the expense of refreshment for the company, than 
to trespass any longer upon the generosity of the officers. 
It is, therefore, the opinion of your Committee that the 
practice of treating the company with refreshments by the 
officers, excepting on election days, ought to be dispensed 
with, and for the purpose of carrying into effect the above 
report, should the same be accepted, your Committee 
reccommend the adoption of the following resolve : 

"Resolved: as the sense of the Light Infantry Com- 
pany of the town of Princeton that the expense of refresh- 
ment for the use of said company on military days, excepting 
on the day of the election of officers, ought not to be borne 
by the officers of said Company. 

"Resolved: that, as it expects Refreshment for the use 
of the Company, excepting as before excepted, the officers, 
non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates ought 
to be considered on an equal footing, and that hereafter, 
all expense for Refreshment excepting etc. shall be equally 
borne by the members of said Company, without regard to 
Rank or Title." 

Mexican War. — No resident of Princeton served in the 
war with Mexico, 1847, that can be ascertained. 

The Civil War. — The first action of the town upon the 
breaking out of the Civil War was on April 29, 1861, when 
the town appropriated $3000 to be used for the enlistment 
and drilling of recruits and for the benefit of their families. 

Princeton furnished one hundred and twenty-three men 
for the war which was a surplus of twelve over and above 



Military History 261 

all demands; one-tenth of its population and more than 
one-third of its voters and polls. 

It expended for war purposes exclusive of State aid, 
$14,456.52 and in State aid, $4,760.13. 

Recapitulation 

Killed in service 2 Never assigned to regiment 9 

Died from wounds I Deserted 7 

Died from disease 16 No record of service 7 

Discharged for disability 13 Transferred to Reserve Veteran 

Exp. of service or war 57 Corps 4 

Discharged by order of War Dep- Transferred to Navy I 

partment 1 1 



SOLDIERS IN THE CIVIL WAR 

Adams, Edwin N. Age 21. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., Co. K. 

9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Anderson, Theodore N. Age 30. M. April 28, 1864. 2d Reg. Inf., 

M. v., unassigned recruit. 3 yrs. Never joined regiment. 
Ayers, Charles. Age 44. M. July 19, 1861. Private 21st Reg. Inf., 

M. v., Co. E. 3 yrs. Dis. May 10, 1862. Disability. 
Baxter, Charles. Age 21. M. Feb. 13, 1865. Private 2d Reg. Cavalry, 

M. v. Co. I. 3 yrs. Dis. July 20, 1865. Exp. service. 
Beaman, Samuel B. Age 31. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Lieut. 53d Reg., Co. K. 

9 mths. Dis. Nov. 25, 1862. Re-enlisted same day Capt. Dis. 

Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Benson, Willl\m W. Age 22. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Corp. 53d Reg., Co. K. 

9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
BiGELOW, Abram G. Age 34. M. Aug. 12, 1862. Private 36th Reg. 

Inf., Co. G. 3 yrs. Dis. Jan. 20, 1863. Disability. Re-enlisted 

Jan. 4, 1864. 7th Battery, Lt. Artillery, M. V. 3 yrs. Dis. July 18, 

1865. Exp. service. 
BoYLES, Charles E. Age 26. M. Sept. 26, 1861. 25th Reg. Inf. Band. 

3 yrs. By Act of Congress. Dis. Aug. 31, 1862, order War Dept. 

No. 151. Drafted Aug. 1863, paid commutation fee. 
BoYLES, Frederick W. Age 22. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Died May 7, 1863, New Orleans, La., of Typhoid 

Fever. 
BOYLES, Henry C. Age 28. M. Oct. 5, 1861. 22d Reg. Inf. Band. 3 

yrs. By Act of Congress. Dis. Aug. 11, 1862, order War Dept. 

No. 151. 
Brooks, Orville C. Age 20. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Corp. 53d Reg., Co. K. 

9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 



262 History of Princeton 

Bryant, George. Age 25. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private S3d Reg., Co K. 

9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Burke, Thomas J. Age 18. M. Nov. 23, 1864. Private 4th Reg. Cavalry, 

M. v., Co. M. 3 yrs. Deserted July 13, 1865. 
Callahan, William. Age 21. M. July 30, 1864. Private 4th Reg. 

Cavalry, M. V., Co. M. 3 yrs. Deserted April 14, 1865. 
CoRBETT, Michael. Age 22. M. June 15, 1864. 2d Reg. Inf., M. V., 

unassigned recruit. Never joined regiment. 
Cotton, Micah. Age 42. M. Oct. 21, 1862. Private S3d Reg., Co. K. 

9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. E.xp. service. 
Cotton, Thomas. Age 18. M. Sept. 27, 1861. Private 2Sth Reg. Inf., 

M. v., Co D. 3 yrs. Dis. Dec. 17, 1863, to re-enlist. M. Dec. 18, 

1863. Corp. 25th Reg. Inf., Co. D. 3 yrs. Dis. July 13, 1865. Exp. 

service. 
Cushman, William C. Age 25, M. Sept. i, 1862. Private isth Reg. 

Inf., Co. B. 3 yrs. Missing Feb. 9, 1863. Wounded before Fred- 
ericksburg, supposed killed. 
Danforth, Theodore W. Age 21. M. Aug. 18, 1864. Private 4th Reg. 

Heavy Artillery, M. V., Co, K. i yr. Dis. June 17, 1865. Exp. 

service. 
Davis, Wilkes. Age 2>i- M. Oct. 5, 1861. 22d Reg. Inf. Band. 3 yrs. 

Dis. Aug. II, 1862, order War Dept. 
Donnelly, Patrick. Age 21. M. Feb. 14, 1865. Private 2d Reg. 

Cavalry, M, V., Co. D. 3 yrs. Dis. July 20, 1865. Exp. service. 
Drought, John. Age 24. M. Apr. 28, 1864. Private 2d Reg. Cavalry, 

M. v., Co. I. 3 yrs. Dis. July 20, 1865. Exp. service. 
Eager, George. Age 2,2,. M. June 16, 1864. Private 5th Reg. Cavalry, 

Co. G. 3 yrs. Dis. Oct. 31, 1865. Exp. service. 
Edwards, Alfred. Age 26. M. Jan. 29, 1864. Private 5th Reg. Cav- 
alry, M. v., Co. D. 3 yrs. Dis. Oct. 31, 1865. Exp. service. At 

Clarksville, Texas. 
Elliot, Eben S. 13th N. H, Credited to Mason, N. H., on town 

list. 
Elliot, Erastus. 13th N. H. Credited to Mason, N. H., on town list. 
Estabrook, Alvin E. Age 21. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private S3d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Estabrook, Edward C. Age 22. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Estabrook, Joseph T. Age 18. M. Dec 13, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K, 9 mths. Died Jan. 3, 1863, Hospital N. Y. City. Scarlet 

fever. 
Estabrook, J. Wheeler. Age 19. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. June i, 1863. Disability. 
Eveleth, George M. Age 22. M. Sept. 16, 1861. Private 25th Reg. 

Inf., Co. H. 3 yrs. Dis. Jan. 18, 1864, to re-enlist. 



Military History 263 

EvELETH, William H. Age 21. M. Jan. i, 1862. Private 25th Reg. Inf., 

Co. H. 3 yrs. Dis. Aug. 8, 1862. Disability, 
Everett, Mendall G. Age 26. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1862. Exp. service. 
Fay, Myron H, Age 18. M. Aug. 26, 1862. Private 36th Reg. Inf., 

Co. G. 3 yrs. Died Aug. 9, 1863, at New Madrid, Mo. 
Ferguson, Patrick. Age 22. M. Dec. 30, 1864. ist Battalion Frontier 

Cavalry, M. V., Co. A. i yr. Dis. June 30, 1865. Exp. service. 
Gill, Charles W. Age 35. M, July 31, 1862. Private 34th Reg. Inf., 

Co. C. 3 yrs. Dis. June 16, 1865. Exp. service. 
Gill, Emory W. Age 27. M. Aug. 7, 862. Private 36th Reg. Inf., 

Co. G. 3 yrs. Dis. June 8. 1865. Exp. service. 
Gleason, Addison. Age 23. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg. Inf., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Gleason, Dexter F. Age 19. M. Sept. 23, 1861. Private 25th Reg. 

Inf., Co. H. 3 yrs. Dis. Jan. 18, 1864, to re-enlist. M. Jan. 19, 1864. 

25th Reg. Inf., Co. H. 3 yrs. Dis. July 13, 1865. Exp. service. 
Goodnow, William F. Age 32. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Green, Abel. Age 43. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., Co. K. 

9 mths. Dis. Jan. 14, 1863. DisabiUty. 
Grotte, Heinrich. Age 32. M. April 30, 1864. 20th Reg. Inf., un- 

assigned recruit. 3 yrs. 
GuiLLO, Henry. Age 21. M. Dec. 30, 1864. ist Battalion Frontier 

Cavalry, M. V., Co. A. i yr. Dis. June 30, 1865. Exp. service. 
Harris, John D. Age 21. M. Dec. 30, 1864. ist Battalion Frontier 

Cavah-y, M. V., Co. A. i yr. Dis. June 30, 1865. Exp. service. 
Harthan, Charles H. Age 18. M. Feb. i, 1864. Private 21st Reg. 

unassigned. 3 yrs. Died Feb. 29, 1864, in hospital, Boston Harbor. 
Hastings, Elias O. Age 32. M. Aug. 11, 1862. Private 36th Reg. Inf., 

Co. H. Dis. June 8, 1865. Exp. service in Co. C. 
Herron, William. Age 27. M. June 17, 1864. Private ist Battery Lt. 

Artillery, M. V. 3 yrs. Transferred Mch. 12, 1865, to 9th Battery 

Lt. Artillery. Dis. June 6, 1865. Exp. service. 
Hey, James S. Aged 21. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private S3d Reg., Co. K. 

9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Hogg, John. Age 24. M. Sept. 2, 1864. 2d Reg. Cavalry, M. V., 

unassigned recruit. 3 yrs. Died Nov. 13, 1864, at Sandy Hook, 

Md. 
HoLDEN, Henry. Age 23. M. Oct. i, 1861. Private 25th Reg. Inf., 

Co. H. 3 yrs. Killed Dec. 17, 1862, at Goldsborough, N. C. 
HoLMAN, Charles. Age 22. M. Oct. 12, 1861. Private 25th Reg. Inf., 

Co. H. 3 yrs. Dis. Jan. 18, 1864, to re-enlist. 
HosMER, John G. Age 44. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private S3d Reg., Co. K. 

8 mths. Died Aug. 21, 1863, at Princeton. 



264 History of Princeton 

Howe, Joseph M. Age 19. M. May 12, 1861. Corp. 15th Reg. Inf., 

M. v., Co A. 3 yrs. Died of wounds, May 12, 1864. One of four 

left in Co. A. after Gettysburg battle. 
Howe, Luther B. Age 42. M. Sept. 14, 1861. Private 25th Reg. Inf., 

Co. F. 3 yrs. Dis. March 8, 1864. Disability. 
Howe, William B. Age 40. M. Sept. 18, 1861. Private 25th Reg. Inf., 

Co. F. 3 yrs. Dis. Jan. 28, 1864. Disability. 
Hurley (Henley ?), James P. Age 28. M. Sept. i, 1864. Private 

Veteran Reserve Corps. 
Johnson, William 2d. Age 23. M.July 27, 1863. 13th Reg. Inf., M. V,, 

Co. E. 3 yrs. Deserted Nov. 21, 1863. Not on town list but on 

Adjutant Gen's. 
Kelly, Daniel S. Age 2>3- M. July 25, 1862. Private 36tli Reg. Inf., 

Co. G. 3 yrs. Died May 21, 1864, at Fredericksburg, Va. 
Kendall, J. Warren. Age 22. M. Sept. 19, 1861. Private 25th Reg. 

Inf., Co. H. 3 yrs. Dis. Jan. 18, 1864, to re-enlist. M. Jan. ig, 

1864. Same Reg. and Co. Dis. July 13, 1865. Exp. service. 
Keyes, George E. Age 23. M. July 21, 1862. Sergt. 36th Reg. Inf., 

M. v., Co. A. 3 yrs. Killed June 17, 1864, at Petersburg, Va. On 

Adj. Gen's list. 
Levally, Godfrey. Age 28. M. Oct. 12, i86i. Private 25th Reg. Inf., 

M. v., Co. E. 3 yrs. Dis. Jan 18, 1864, to re-enlist. M. Jan. 19, 

1864. Same Reg. and Co. 3 yrs. Dis. June 21, 1865. Disability. 

(Credited to Holden.) 
Lincoln, George W. Age 39. M. Aug. 22, 1862. Private 36th Reg. 

Inf., Co. G. 3 yrs. Transferred Nov. 10, 1863, to V. R. C. 
LoKER, Andrew J. Age 20. M. July 31, 1862. Private 34th Reg. Inf., 

Co. C. 3 yrs. Died Sept. 25, 1864, at Charlestown, Va. 
LoKER, LoREN. Age 45. M. Jan. 25, 1864. Private S7th Reg. Inf., 

Co. E. 3 yrs. Dis. July 30, 1865. Exp. service. 
LoRiNG, Charles E. Age 21. M. Oct. 5, 1861. 22d Reg. Inf. Band. 

3 yrs. Dis. Aug. 11, 1862, order War Dept. 
LoRiNG, Joseph. Age 23. 22d Regt. Band. M. Oct. 5, 1861. Dis. 

Aug. 1 1 , 1862, order War Dept. On town record but not on Adj. Gen's. 
LoRiNG, Leander. Age 44. M. Jan. 6, 1862. Private 15th Reg. Inf., 

Co. C. 3 yrs. Dis. Dec. 9, 1862. Disability. 
Love, Charles T. Age 19. M. July 16, 1861. 13th Reg. Inf., M. V., 

Co. I. 3 yrs. Dis. Aug. i, 1864. Exp. service. 
Mahan, Thomas. Age 2)2>- M. Feb. 18, 1864. Private 57th Reg. Inf., 

Co. E. 3 yrs. June 28, 1865, order War Dept. Meehan on receipt 

for bounty. 
Maholm, William. Age 19. M. Aug. 2, 1864. 2d Reg. Cavalry, M. V., 

unassigned recruit. 3 yrs. 
Marini, Paul. Age 31. M. June 20, 1864. 26th Reg. Inf., unassigned 

recruit. 3 yrs. 



Military History 265 

Martin, George. Age 22. M. June 20, 1864. 2d Reg. Inf., M. V., 

unassigned recruit. 3 yrs. Never joined regiment. 
Martin, James. Age 22. M. Dec. 30, 1864. ist Battalion Frontier 

Cavalry, M. V., Co. A. i yr. Dis. June 30, 1865. Exp. service. 
Mathews, Francis E. Age 19. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Died at Marine Hospital, N. Orleans, Aug. 24, 

1863. 
Mathews, Franklin E. Age 25. M. Jan. 9, 1864. Private 4th Reg. 

Cav., Co. D. 3 yrs. Dis. June 21, 1865. Exp. service. 
Maynard, Charles H. Age 18. M. Sept. 17, 1861. Private 25th Reg. 

Inf., Co. F. 3 yrs. Died Jan. 3, 1862, Annapolis, Md. 
McKernan, Michael. Age 21. M. April 30, 1864. 2d Reg. Inf., M. V., 

unassigned recruit. 3 yrs. Transferred to Navy, May 17, 1864. 
McKiNLEY, David. Age 28. M. Sept. i, 1864. Private Veteran Reserve 

Corps. 
McQuADE, Thom^\s. Age 20. M. Sept. 16, 1861. Private 25th Reg. Inf., 

Co. E. 3 yrs. Dis. Dec. 17, 1863, to re-enlist. M. Dec. 18, 1863. 

Same Reg. Dis. July 11, 1865. Exp. service. 
McWiLLiAMS, George. Age 23. M. June 18, 1864. 2d Reg. Inf., M. V., 

unassigned recruit. 3 yrs. Never joined regiment. 
Merriam, John N. Age 23. M, Aug. 8, 1862. Private 36th Reg. Inf., 

Co. G. 3 yrs. Dis. Feb. 16, 1864. Disability. (Unfit for Invalid 

Corps.) 
Miller, Edward P. Age . M. Nov. 6, 1861. Corp. 32d Reg. Inf., 

Co. A, M. V. 3 yrs. Dis. Nov. 30, 1862. Disability. 
MnacK, Hervey C. Age 21. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Died May 8, 1863, at Berwick, La. 
Mlrick, George L. Age 21. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Merick, George Waldo. M. Aug. 6, 1861. 15th Reg. Co. I. 3 yrs. 

Dis. Aug. 6, 1864. Exp. service. 
Moody, George B. Age 23. M. May 25, 1861. Member of Band, ist 

Inf. 3 yrs. Appears credited to Sutton, Mass. 
Myrick, George. Age 25. M. March i, 1863. ist and 2d Lieut, ist 

Reg., Inf. 3 yrs. Dis. May 25, 1864. Exp. service. Credited to 

Boston. 
Page, George E. Age 23. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53rd Reg., Co. 

K. 9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. 
Parker, George R. Age 42. M. Aug. 13, 1862. Private 36th Reg. Inf., 

Co. K. 3 yrs. Transferred Sept. i, 1863, to \. R. C. Dis. Mar. 9, 

1865. Disabihty. 
Parker, George W. M. Age 21. M. Oct. 25, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. Jan. 10, 1863. Disabihty. 
Parker, Henry A. Age 19. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., Co. 

K. 9 mths. Died July 2, 1863, at Baton Rouge, La. 



266 History of Princeton 

Partridge, Daniel W. Age 38. M. Aug. 7, 1862, Private 36th Reg. 

Inf., Co. G. 3 yrs. Dis. June 8, 1865. Exp. service. 
Partridge, Lyman F. Age 34. M. Aug. 7, 1862. Sergt. 36th Reg. Inf., 

Co. G. 3 yrs. Dis. June 8, 1865. Exp. service. 
Preston, John. Age 22. M. Feb. 14, 1865. Private sth Battery Lt. 

Artillery, M. V. 3 yrs. Dis. June 12, 1865. Exp. service. 
QuiGLEY, Thomas. Age 23. M. April 28, 1864. 2d Reg. Inf., M. V., 

unassigned recruit. 3 yrs. Never joined regiment. 
Quinlan, Jerry. Age 24. M. April 28, 1864. 2d Reg. Cavalry, M. V., 

Co. I. 3 yrs. Dis. July 20, 1865. Exp. service. 
Randall, Joseph. Age 31. M. Dec. 8, 1862. Private 36th Reg. Inf., 

Co. G. 3 yrs. Died Feb. 11, 1864. Camp Nelson, Kentucky. 
Reed, Joseph P. Age 32. M. Oct. 5, 1861. 22d Reg. Inf. Band. 3 yrs. 

Aug. II, 1862, order War Dept. 
Riley, James. Age 21. M. June 18, 1864. 2d Regt. Inf., Co. F. Cred- 
ited to Middletown. Deserted Sept. 4, 1864. On Town Record but 

not on Adj. Gen's. 
Robinson, Charles. Age 26. M. Apr. 29, 1864. Private 2d Reg. Inf., 

M. v., Co. F. 3 yrs. Dis. July 14, 1865. Exp. service. 
Roper, Edward R. Age 23. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Died Dec. 10, 1862, at Baton Rouge, La. 
Roper, Francis. Age 18. M. July 26, 1862. Private 36th Inf., Co. F. 

3 jTS. Died Jan. 18, 1863, Falmouth, Va. 
Sawyer, Evander E. Age 37. M. Oct. 17, 1862. ist Corporal, pro- 
moted Nov, 18, 1862 to Sergt. 53d Reg., Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 

1863. Exp. service. 
ScHULZE, Ernest. Age 24. M. June 17, 1864. Private 3d Reg. Cavalry, 

unassigned recruit. 3 yrs. 
Scott, Isaac E. Age 21. M. Dec. 30, 1864. ist Batallion Frontier 

Cavalry, M. V., Co. A. i yr. Dis. June 30, 1865. Exp. service. 
Sherman, Ch.\rles. Age 24. M. May 14, 1864. Private 19th Reg. 

Inf., Co. D. 3 yrs. Dis. Jun. 30, 1865. Exp. service. 
Skinner, Artemas H. Age 25. M. Oct. 5, 1861. 22d Reg. Inf. Band. 

3 yrs. Aug. 11, 1862, order War Dept. 
Skinner, Charles A. Age 21. M. Oct. 5, 1861. 22d Reg. Inf. Band. 

3 yrs. Dis. Aug. 11, 1862, order War Dept. 
Smith, Frank. Age 22. M. July 29, 1863. 13th Reg. Inf., M. V., Co. 

K. 3 yrs. Deserted Nov. 25, 1863. 
Smith, John. On Town list but not on Adj. Gen's. 
Sweeney, James. Age 32. M. July 29, 1863. 13th Reg. Inf., M. V., 

Co. I. 3 yrs. Deserted Sept. 21, 1863. On Adj. list but not on 

town's. 
Terrill, Joseph. Age 21. M. June 10, 1864. Private 21st Reg. Inf., 

Co. F. 3 yrs. Transferred to 36th Reg. Inf., Co. K, and then to 56th 

Reg. Inf., Co. B. Dis. July 12, 1865. Exp. service. 



Military History 267 

Thompson, Fred'k G. Age 22. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Died April 18, 1863, at Baton Rouge, La. 
ToRGER, Orrin L. Age 21. M. Aug. 19, 1864. Private 2d Reg. Heavy 

Artillery, M. V., Co. H. 3 yrs. Transferred Jan. 17, 1865, to 17th 

Inf. Co. G. Dis. June 16, 1865, order War Dept. Probably Prince- 
ton. On Adj. Gen's list not on town list. 
TwEDEL, Edward. Age 26. M. Dec. 30, 1864. ist Battalion Frontier 

Cavalry, M. V., Co. A. i yr. Dis. June 30, 1865. Exp. service. 
Watson, William A. Age 19. M. Sept. 23, 1861. Private 25th Reg. 

Inf., Co. H. 3 yrs. Dis. Oct. 20, 1864. Exp. service. 
Welch, Henry H. Age 19. M. July 31, 1862. Private 34th Reg. Inf., 

Co. C. 3 yrs. Deserted Dec. 13, 1862. 
Welch, J. Wilder. Age 21. M. July 12, 1861. Private 15th Reg. Inf., 

Co. A. 3 yrs. Dis. Aug. i, 1861. Disability. 
Whitcomb, Oilman W. Age 21, M. July 12, 1861. Private 15th Reg. 

Inf., Co. B. 3 yrs. Dis. April, 1864. Disability. 
Whitcomb, William H. Age 42. M. Oct. 17, 1862. 5th Sergt. 53 Reg. 

Co. K. 9 mths. Died Aug. 18, 1863 on steamer "Meteor" at sea. 
White, George E. Age 21. M. Dec. 28, 1864. Private 3d Reg. Cav- 
alry, M. v., Co. M. 3 yrs. Dis. Sept. 28, 1865. Exp. service. 
Whitney, Augustine. Age 22. M. Aug. 30, 1864. Private 2d Reg. 

Heavy Artillery, M. V., Co. D. 3 yrs. Transferred Feb. 9, 1865, to 

17th Inf. Dis. June 30, 1865, order War Dept. 
Whitney, William L. M. Aug. 9, 1862. Private 15th Reg. Inf., Co. A. 

3 yrs. Died Nov. 14, 1862, at Washington, D. C. 
Wilcox, Benjamin F. May 1 861, on town Hst not on Adj. Gen's. 
Wilson, George W. Age 24, M. July 19, 1861. Corp. 21st Reg. Inf., 

M. v., Co. E. 3 yrs. Dis. Jan. i, 1864, to re-enlist. Re-enhsted 

Jan. 2, 1864. Same Reg. 3 yrs. (Credited to Leominster.) Died 

Feb. 21, 1864, at Cleveland, 0. 
Winn, Edward F. Age 39. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., Co K. 

9 mths. Dis. Sept. 2, 1863. Exp. service. On Adj. Gen's list, not 

on town list. 
WiNSHip, Charles N. Age 19. M. Oct. 17, 1862. Private 53d Reg., 

Co. K. 9 mths. Dis. April, 1863. Disability. Re-enlisted Feb. 

29, 1864. 25th Reg. Inf., Co. H. 3 yrs. Dis. July 20, 1865. Exp. 

service. 

Copy of a portion of a letter written by D. H. Gregory 
to his wife, Oct. 7, 1862: 

" There was quite a collection of people on the common this morning, 
to see our soldiers start off for the camp. Mr. Ross carried the 
soldiers (26 I believe) on the stage. Mason, with his four horses, the 
band in an omnibus, and John Brooks took the ladies dressed in Red 



268 History of Princeton 

White and Blue. Some 25 or 30 carriages accompanied them to Sterling. 
Mr. Briggs, Mr. Vinton and others. The Soldiers were addressed at the 
Town Hall in Sterling by Mr. Briggs and the SterUng minister. Mr. 
Briggs gave each soldier a testament. The company returned to Princeton 
about noon. The soldiers proceeded to Groton Junction and would go 
into camp to-day.^ 

John D. Mirick Post, No. 99, G. A. R. was instituted 
Aug. 4, 1869. 

The successive Commanders were Wm. H. Eveleth, a 
veteran of 8th. Massachusetts Regiment, Joseph P. Reed 
of the nth Reg't, and Emory W. Gill of the 40th Reg't, 
who was in command when the Post surrendered its charter 
in 1874. (The exact date not given. The Adjutant was 
not over exact in the keeping of his records.) In all 
twenty-one members belonged to the organization. If the 
records may be believed, the veterans were not extremely 
zealous in attending meetings, largely no doubt the result 
of living at some distance from the center of the town and 
the consequent difficulty of getting out in the evening. 
Such was the fate of many of the early posts in the smaller 
communities. 

The first posts in Massachusetts were started in 1867, 
only one in 1866, so it will be seen that Princeton was in 
quite early but did not have the vitality essential to long 
life. 

Tablet at the entrance to Bagg Hall: 

OUR TOWNSMEN 

Who Died 

In the Service 

1861-1865 

Joseph M. Howe. 15*'^ Reg. Cold Harbor Va. May 25.64 

William L. Whitney. is*** " Washington D. C. Nov. 14.62 

Charles H. Harthan. 21^* " Gallop's Island Mass. Mar 1.64 

Henry Holden. 25*^ " Goldsboro, N. C. Dec 17.62 

Charles H. Maynard 25*^^ " Annapolis Md. June 3.62 

Andrew J. Loker 34''^ " Charlestown Va. Sept 25.64 

Myron H. Fay 36*^ " New Madrid, Mo. Aug 9.63 

' (One of the incidents of frequent occurrence during the civil war.) 



Military History 



269 



Daniel S. Kelley, 


36th . 


' Fredericksburg Va. 


May 21.64 


Joseph Randall 


36th < 


' Camp Nelson, Ky. 


Feb. 11.64 


Francis Roper 


36^^ ' 


' Falmouth, Va. 


Jany 18.63 


Frederick W. Boyles. 


53^ ' 


* New Orleans La. 


May 7.63 


Joseph T. Estabrook. 


53^ ' 


' New York, N. Y. 


Jany 4.63 


Francis E. Mathews 


53^ ' 


' New Orleans La. 


Aug 24.63 


Hervey C. Mirick. 


53^ ' 


' Berwick, La. 


May 7.63 


Henry A. Parker. 


53^^ ' 


' Baton Rouge, La. 


Jany 2.63 


Edward R. Roper 


53^ ' 


' Long Island N. Y. 


Dec 10.62 


Frederick G. Thompson. 


53^ ' 


' Baton Rouge La 


Apr. 18.63 


William H. Whitcomb. 


53^ ' 


* Cairo, 111. 


Aug 12,63 



CHAPTER XI 
BIOGRAPHY 

Hon. Moses Gill was born at Charlestown, Mass., on 
the 1 8th day of January in the year 1734. He was bred 
to the business of a merchant, early went into that line in 
Boston and for a long course of years maintained the 
character of an upright and Hberal merchant. 

In his youth he was married to the amiable and accom- 
phshed Miss Sarah Prince, the daughter and only child 
of the Reverend Thomas Prince, then pastor of the Old 
South Church in Boston; in whose right he held while he 
lived, and afterwards in his own, a large landed estate in 
Princeton. 

The increasing value of that property depended on the 
industry and enterprise of the owner; and in its improve- 
ment he set a valuable example and did much good in this 
part of the country. 

Rev. Peter Whitney in his History of Worcester County, 
1793, says: 

"In this town is the country seat of the Hon. Moses 
Gill, Esq., who has been from the year 1775 one of the 
Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of 
Worcester, and for several years a councillor of this Com- 
monwealth. His elegant and noble seat is about one mile 
and a quarter from the meeting house, to the south. The 
farm contains upwards of 3000 acres. The county road 
from Princeton to Worcester passes through it in front of 
the house, which faces to the west. 

"The buildings stand upon the highest land of the whole 
farm; but it is level round about them for many rods, and 
then theie is a very gradual descent. The land on which 
these buildings stand is elevated between 1200 and 1300 

270 




I.lKirKXAN'l-dnVKRN'OR MOSKS CILL 




ir^-^^4^c/^^ 



Biography 271 

feet above the level of the sea, as the Hon. James Win- 
throp, Esq., informs me. 

"The mansion house is large, being 50x50 feet, with 
four stacks of chimneys; the farm house is 40x36 feet; 
in a line with this stand the coach and chaise house, 50 x 36 
feet; this is joined to the barn by a shed 70 feet in length — 
the barn is two hundred feet by thirty-two. Very elegant 
fences were erected around the mansion house, the out- 
houses, and the garden. 

"The prospect from this seat is extensive and grand, 
taking in horizon to the east, of seventy miles at least. 
The blue hills of Milton are discernable with the naked eye, 
from the windows of this superb edifice, distant not less 
than sixty miles, as well as the waters of the harbour of 
Boston, at certain seasons of the year. 

"When we view this seat, these buildings, and this farm 
of so many hundred acres, now under a high degree of 
cultivation, and are told that in the year 1766 it was a per- 
fect wilderness, we are struck with wonder, admiration and 
astonishment. 

"The honorable proprietor hereof must have great satis- 
faction in contemplating these improvements, so extensive, 
made under his direction, and, I may add by his own active 
industr>\ Judge Gill is a gentleman of singular vivacity 
and activity, and indefatigable in his endeavors to bring 
forward the cultivation of his lands ; of great and essential 
service, by his example in the employment he finds for so 
many persons, and in all his attempts to serve the interests 
of the place where he dwells, and in his acts of private 
munificence and public generosity, and deserves great 
respect and esteem, not only from individuals, but from the 
town and county he has so greatly benefited, and especially 
by the ways in which he makes use of that vast estate, 
wherewith a kind Providence has blessed him. 

"Upon the whole, this seat of Judge Gill, all the agree- 
able circumstances respecting it being attentively con- 
sidered, is not paralleled by any in the New England 
States; perhaps not by any one this side of Delaware." 



272 History of Princeton 

Many of the older families in Princeton today are glad 
to consider among their treasures, articles of furniture and 
bric-a-brac that came from the Gill mansion. 

Mrs. Sarah (Prince), wife of Moses Gill, died on Monday, 
August 5, 1 77 1, aged 43 years. After the decease of his 
first consort, he was married to Miss Rebecca Boylston, 
niece of Thomas Boylston, Esq., and sister of Mary Hal- 
lowell, mother of Ward Nicholas Boylston, later known as 
Madame Rebecca Gill. She died at Princeton on Monday, 
March 21, 1798 in the 70th year of her age. Both wives 
died childless. He adopted a son of his brother John, who 
was named for him, Moses. The last named died in South 
Boston, May 1887. 

In Nicholas Boylston's will of Aug. i, 1771, SufTolk 
Probate 70. 445. he devised to Rebecca (Mrs. Gill) "Negro 
Man Jack and Negro Woman Flora." 

Mr. Moses Gill was one of a committee sent by the pro- 
vincial Congress June 20, 1775, to repair to Springfield, 
there to receive Generals Washington and Lee " and escort 
them to the army before Boston." 

When the controversy between Great Britain and 
America became serious and it was seen that a resort to 
arms would be the probable consequence, Mr. Gill, came 
forward with his property and cast it liberally into the 
lap of his country's fortune. His person and property 
were laid at the foot of the altar of liberty, ready for the 
sacrifice, if his country needed them. 

In the year 1775, he was elected into the council under 
the charter of 1692; by which fifteen councellors were to 
act as Governor. This was done in pursuance to the 
recommendation of the American Congress. Under this 
authority, troops were raised, ships provided, magistrates 
and judges appointed, and commissions issued to defend 
the country. Mr. Gill continued in the council under 
this form of government, elected annually by the General 
Court, until the new constitution was formed in 1780. 
From that time to the year 1795, he was continued one of 
the Executive Council. In that year, he was elected 




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Biography 273 

Lieutenant-Governor, and continued by annual elections, 
from that time in the same office until June 1799, when by 
the death of Governor Increase Sumner he became Acting 
Governor. He died May 20, 1800 and from this date until 
the 30th of May 1800 — ten days — when Caleb Strong 
was inaugurated the state was without a Governor. 
From the Boston papers of that period we learn : 
"The Funeral Solemnities of the late Lieutenant-Gover- 
nor and Commander-in-Chief, His Honor Moses Gill, Esq., 
were performed with marks of the highest respect. Order 
of Procession. Funeral Escort, Officers of the Militia with 
Side- Arms, Justices of the Peace, Judges of Probate, Muni- 
cipal Court and Common Pleas, Attorney-General, Judges 
of the Supreme Judicial Court, Members of the House of 
Representatives, Members of the Senate, Sheriff of Suffolk 
with his wand, Q. Master-General, Adjutant-General, 
Members of the Honorable Council, Secretary, Treasurer, 
"Paul" Bearers, Hon. Mr. Jones, Genl. Lincoln, Hon. 
Mr. Robbins, Rev. Dr. Howard, Hon. Judge Dana, Hon. 
Mr. Phillips, Relations, Members of Congress in Boston, 
L^nited States Judges and District Attorney, Other Civil 
Officers of the United States, Foreign Consuls, President, 
Corporation, Professors and Instructors of Harvard Uni- 
versity, Ministers of the Gospel, Selectmen of Boston, Cor- 
porations in Boston according to Seniority, Citizens and 
Strangers." 

" The escort was composed of a troop of calvalry, com- 
manded by Capt. Davis of Roxbury, a regiment of Infan- 
try, two companies of Light Infantry, and a company of 
Artillery; the whole under the command of Lt. Col. 
Gardner. The civil part of the procession was directed by 
Majors Cunningham and Blanchard, Capt. Gardner's com- 
pany of Artillery fired minute guns; — the places of busi- 
ness were closed; the colours in the harbour and in the 
town, were suspended half mast and staff; and such evi- 
dences of general respect were given, as the notice un- 
avoidably brief, would admit." {Columbian Centinel and 
Massachusetts Federalist, Wednesday, May 28, 1800.) 



274 History of Princeton 

The procession moved at the hour appointed, from the 
late dwelHng-house of the deceased in School-street, his 
winter home where the Parker House now stands, through 
Long-Acre, Common-street, Hollis-street, Main-street, 
down and up State-street, through Court-street and Tre- 
mont-street, to the place of interment; probably the Granary 
Burying Ground. 

From an Inventory of personal estate belonging to Moses 
Gill (original mss. in possession of the American Antiquarian 
Society.) 

WEARING APPARELL 

Mr. Gill's Linnen Stockins 

I doz. old ruffled shirts 4 p Cotton 

10 newer "Do I p Fine Thread 

12 old plain shirts 2 p Black Silk 

6 new Neckloshs 2 p Black Worsteed 

4 old Do I p Grey Do 

5 Long Lawn Caps Coarse Thread 
I Holland Do Under Thread 



MR. GILL'S CLOATHS 



I Scarlet Rocquela (Roquelaure) — A short abridgement of a ctoak. 

I Blue Do 

I Great Coat 

I Old Red Banyan (Banyan) — An Indian Gown, worn in 

England and America "The graceful 
folds alluring to all men and all por- 
trait painters.'' 

I Chinee Banyan 

I Calico Gown 

I Suit pearl color cloath — 
viz. coat, jacket, and breaches 

I cloath colored coat and Breaches 

I Light coat, Jacket and Breaches 

I Summer coat and Breaches 

I Black cloath Coat and Jacket 

I Blue coat and Breaches 

I Velvet Jacket and Breaches 

I p Silk Breaches 

I Black Padusoy Jacket (Paduasoy) — Soie de Padua — A strong 

silk made at Padua, Italy, much 
used for ladie's dresses, gentle- 
me?i's coats, etc. 



Biography 



275 



2 pr. Old Knit Breeches 

2 pr. Cotton Velvet Breeches 

I pr. Nankeen Do 



MRS GILLS CLOATHS 



1 Gowns &c 

2 Suits Black Padusoy 

I Bombazeen — Gen- 
erally associated with deep 
mourning 

I Sack Black Padusoy 

I D" Flowered Tobine 

I Gown & scirt White Tabby — 
A kind of coarse waved or 
watered silk. 

I Gown Yellow Grown'd Brocade 

I Brown Ducape — A corded silk 
of moderate firmness. 

I Green Padusoy 

I Sriped Lutstring — {or Lus- 
tring) — A glossy silk much 
used for ladie's dresses, petti- 
coats, etc. 

I Blue D« 

I Red Brolio {or Broella) — A 
coarse french cloth. 

I Blue Crape 

I Grey Tabby 

I D° Padusoy 

I D° Ducape {short cape 

I D'' Mantua Silk {manteau or 
Mantle) — A sleeveless cape 
or cloak. 

I Bengal 

1 Long Lawn 

2 Callico 

I striped hoUand Wrapper 

1 Black & White D" 

2 short Gowns 

2 scarlet Cloth Long Cloaks 
2 Sattin Cardinals & Bonnets 
I pompadore Sattin Capuchin — 
A hood worn by ladies, re- 
sembling that of a Capuchin 
friar. 
I Old Sattin Cloke & riding hat 
I Gauze hat 



Petticoats &c 
I Black Sattin Scirt 
I Blue D° Quilt 
I Black Callimanco D° 
I D'' Bombazeen D° 
3 Linnen Under Coats 

1 Broad Cloath D« 

2 Baise D° 



276 



History of Princeton 



Mrs. Gills Linnen 

Shifts 

4 Holland 

5 Long Lawn 

1 Muslin 

2 Cambrick 
2 Lawn 
I Minionett 
I Gause 
4 Check'd 

Wastcoats 
Pocketts 



Aprons 



Head Dresses &c 

I suit Brussels Lace 

1 D° Spender Lace 

2 plain Muslin Suits 
I Flowered Gause 

I plain Lawn 

I pr plain Lawn ruffles 

I Brussels Lace Cap & han*' 

I Lawn Square hanch'' 

Cambrick D° — 

Long Lawn D" 

3 Lawn Mobs, i Cap — made 

of stiff gauze twisted about 
the head, crossed under the 
chin, and fastened behind, 
with the ends hanging down. 

Cambrick Mobs 

Holland D° 



I Black Sattin hanch 
I Green Tippet 
I Nice Leather Mount Fan 
I small D° — D° 

I Nice Catgut — D« 

I Black & White — D« 
I purple & White — D° 
I Black Crape — D« 

I pr shoes purple | 

I — Blue [ Sattin 

I White 



Jewels &c. 

1 paste Necklass & Earings 

2 Mourning rings Amethyst 

1 D° — Christal 

2 D° plain Enamell'd 

I pr Enamell'd Buttons 

I pr D° — Studds^ 

I pr Jet Buttons sat in Gold 

I pr Stone Buckles 

I pr rare Earings 

I pearl Necklass Earings & 
Buckle 

I pr rare Blue stone pendants 

I pr cats Eye stone pendants 

I pr purple stone Earings 

I Knife i Fork i penknife 
Agate handles 

I pearl Snuff Box 

I Burning Glass Turtle shell 
case 

I D'' plain Leather Case 

I pocket Microscope 

I D° Tellescope 

I D° Prospect Glass 

I set Globes 

I D° Thermometer & Barom- 
eter 

I Temple Spectacles. — 



Biography 277 

Advertisement 

ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS 
REWARD! 



On the night of the iS*** of August instant, the house of the 
subscriber, in Princeton, was broken open, and the following 
articles of PLATE were stolen from thence, viz. 

Three Tankards, One Cream Bucket, 

Three Cans, One Strainer, 

Five Porringers, Three Candle Sticks, 

Eight table Spoons, One Soup Spoon, 

Two Bowls, Two Chafing Dishes, 

Three Servers, A pair of Tea Tongs, 

One Coffee Pot, One Pepper Box, 

One Tea Pot, One Mustard Pot, 

Two Cups, A pair of Salts. 

Any person who will give information, so as that the above 
articles may be recovered, and the Thief or Thieves brought to 
justice, shall receive the above reward. 



Princeton, August 19, 1793. 
Mass"" Spy, Aug. 22, 1793. 



Moses Gill. 



Gill, Mass. Apl. 23, 1887. 
Mr. Blake: 

In reply to your late note of inquiry, I say: 

That this town was incorporated in 1793 and named in honor 
of Gov. Moses Gill of Princeton, who, being childless offered to 
give the town the nails, paint, and glass, also a bell, and the 
church furniture for the meeting house then being erected in 
consideration of the assumption of his name by the town. This 
was done, with the exception of the bell, which the town bought 
in 1 8 16. I have the large folio Bible which Mr. Gill gave the 
town now in my possession, printed by Isaiah Thomas of Worces- 
ter. It is in good preservation. 

Concerning Gov. Gill we know very little about him, save by 
tradition; all going to show that he was a fine looking, and very 
aristocratic man, and given to display. 

The town has no portrait of the Gov. but a very good one you 
will find in Kimball's Museum in Boston. I saw it there not 
many years since. It is a good picture, and I had some talk with 
Mr. Kimball about procuring it for our town. A relative of Gov. 
Gill called on me many years ago, think he was from Springfield, 
at any rate there are Gills there. 

Josiah D. Canning, 

Town Clerk, 
Gill, Mass. 



278 History of Princeton 

Ward Nicholas Boylston, Esq., original name Ward 
Hallowell, was born in Boston, Nov. 22nd, 1747. He was 
one of a family of fourteen children. His father, Benjamin 
Hallowell, Esq., was the commissioner of customs in the 
early history of Boston, and lived at the corner of Boylston 
and Centre Streets, Jamaica Plain. He was a man of 
wealth and refinement, but as he was an officer of the 
Crown, he was, of course, a Loyalist. In March, 1776, he 
and his family with other Loyalists embarked for Halifax, 
and the following July sailed for England. His estate was 
confiscated in 1779, but was recovered by the heirs-at-law 
in 1 80 1 by a suit in the United States District Court, a full 
account of which may be found in the New England Genea- 
logical Register, Vol. XII, page ^2, also in Drake's Rox- 
hury, page 407, and Drake's Boston, page 686. 

His mother, Mrs. Mary (Boylston) Hallowell, was the 
daughter of Thomas Boylston and Sarah (Morecock), and 
sister to Nicholas Boylston, Esq. She was also sister to 
Madam Rebecca (Boylston) Gill, the second wife of the 
Hon. Moses Gill. Mrs. Hallowell received £3000 from her 
brother Nicholas Boylston's estate. See Suffolk Probate, 
1.70, f445. 

Ward Nicholas received his early education in the free 
public schools of Boston. In March, 1770, at the request 
of his uncle Nicholas Boylston, Esq. (who died the follow- 
ing year), he dropped the name of Hallowell, through a 
royal license bearing the signature of King George HI, and 
added to his christian name that of his uncle, who had 
promised to leave him at his death certain large estates. 

Mr. Boylston was twice married, the full name of his 

first wife, Mary is not obtainable. His second 

marriage was to Alicia Darrow of Yarmouth, England, 
later known as Madam Boylston. 

On Oct. 1 2th, 1773, Mr. Boylston commenced an ex- 
tended journey through Europe and Asia, sailing on board 
the "King of Naples" from Boston bound for Newfound- 
land; continuing, he sailed to Italy, and proceeding to 
Turkey, Syria, the Archipeligo, Palestine, Egypt, and the 




WARD NICHOLAS I'.OVr.STOX 
1 740- i,S2S 



Biography 279 

Barbary Coast. He also passed through Geneva, Savoy, 
France and Flanders. 

He arrived in London in 1775, where he remained for 
twenty-five years, engaged in various lines of trade. In 
1800 he sailed for America, arriving in Boston on the 15th 
of May. In September, 1804, he succeeded to the estate 
of Hon. Moses Gill, and from that time until his death in 
1828, he made Princeton his place of residence during the 
greater part of the time, but spending the winter months 
at his winter residence at Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, Mass. 

Soon after his arrival in Boston, Mr. Boylston confirmed 
to Harvard University a bequest of his uncle, Nicholas 
Boylston, Esq., amounting to $23,200 as a foundation of 
the professorship of Rhetoric and Oratory, with the con- 
dition that John Quincy Adams should be appointed 
professor. Several smaller sums were subsequently do- 
nated to Harvard and large bequests were made to the 
same institution in his will.* 

Without attempting to reconcile the stories that were 
current years ago regarding the acquisition of the property 
of Moses Gill, we simply quote from the Suffolk Records: 

" Ward Nicholas Boylston of London, now resident at 
Boston, Esqr., administrator with the will annexed of 

* To the inhabitants of the town of Princeton he gave $1000, one half to 
be paid to the deacons of the church and congregation over which Rev'd 
Samuel Clarke was pastor, the net income to be applied towards the salary of 
the minister. The remaining five hundred dollars to be loaned to industrious 
young men in the town until it doubled when the income should be expended 
for the support of indigent and deserving widows and female orphan children. 

According to Dr. Nathan Allen, "Mr. Boylston, while in Princeton, lived 
in princely style and was remarkable for his politeness to all with whom he 
came in contact. He possessed an unusual amount of intelligence and lib- 
erality in his benefactions. While residing in London he became familiarly 
acquainted with the celebrated Dr. John Hunter, and having had two uncles 
in this country distinguished members of the medical profession, he became 
greatly interested in all matters pertaining to medicine. For this purpose he 
made some handsome donations to Harvard University, so that the name 
Boylston is honored, being attached to a medical library, an anatomical 
museum, a medical society and prize medals for essays to improve medical 
science." 

Thus it was said: "He has done more towards raising the standard of the 
medical profession in this commonwealth than all others of the profession." 



28o History of Princeton 

Thomas Boylston, late of London, Kingdom of Great 
Britain, Esqr., deceased, by judgment obtained by the 
Supreme Judicial Court held at Boston for the counties 
of Suffolk and Nantucket on the third Tuesday of August 
last recovered judgment against the estate of Moses Gill, 
late of Boston, Esq., dec'd, in the hands and possession of 
Moses Gill of Boston, Esqr., otherwise called Moses Gill 
of Princeton, Esq., executor of the will of the said Moses 
deceased, for $106,104,42 damages and $72.24 costs the 
said Moses Gill is ordered to pay the said Boylston the 
above sums, 11 Sept. 1804, by Francis Dana, Esq., of 
Boston & Charles Gushing, clerk. (Suffolk Deeds, 187: 

184.)" 

The original Gill Mansion House in Princeton was 
occupied as a summer residence by the Boylstons until 
1819-20, when the present Boylston villa was built after 
the prevailing style of the English country villa with the 
living rooms on the first floor and the servants' quarters 
above. It was erected about 600 feet N.W. of the old 
mansion house and nearer the center of the town. Some 
indications of the cellar of the old house are still visible. 

David Everett. The subject of this sketch, a native of 
Princeton, Mass., has been chiefly known to many for 
several generations, as the author of a poem for juvenile 
declamation, beginning "You'd scarce expect one of my 
age," while his greater work in a literary point of view, 
has escaped their notice. 

This sketch is prepared with the design of setting forth 
briefly his character and work, in order that due honor may 
be rendered to his name. He was the son of David Everett 
and Susanah Rolph who were married in Princeton Oct. 
29, 1767. They had five children, David being the second 
child and the eldest son. He was born Mar. 29, 1770. 

The father came from Dedham and within a year of 
his marriage purchased a hundred acres or more, adjoin- 
ing land already owned by his wife's father. It was in 
Lot No. eleven (11) on the west side of Wachusett Moun- 
tain, on the old county road to Barre. On this land he 



Biography 281 

erected two or three dwelling-houses and a blacksmith shop, 
all of which he sold not long afterward, the larger part to 
some of his old neighbors from Dedham. Later, catching 
the spirit of the times, which was manifest even in remote 
localities, he joined the Continental Army with others of 
his town. His military service was, however, brief, for 
he died in the army June 26, 1775. The widow kept the 
family together, though doubtless with difficulty, as her 
husband left no real estate, and but little personal property, 
while all the money, as far as is known, that the widow 
received as pay for his military service was sixteen 
pounds. 

The locality of the house is known, and is nearly opposite 
the school-house now designated as No. 8. It was isolated, 
although on the county road, the travelling being infre- 
quent, and the boy's earliest associations were with the 
neighboring school-house. He must have imbibed the 
patriotic spirit of the times, which shows itself in the pro- 
ductions of his mature years. 

When he was about ten years of age he went to live 
with his grandmother, Mary (Everett) Gerould, in Wren- 
tham. The journey must have been a great event in the 
boy's life. It may well be supposed that the educational 
advantages in Wrentham were superior to those in Prince- 
ton where his father's library, according to the inventory, 
consisted of "two old Bibles, and a few other old books," 
valued at six shillings. These new conditions more ade- 
quately met the wants of a "bright, ambitious boy," as 
he is said to have been. By his perseverance and "in- 
domitable ambition" he made his way to New Ipswich, 
N. H., being attracted by the opportunities offered by the 
Academy recently established there. The only evidence 
we have of this progress there is found in a manuscript 
preserved in the Academy, of an original drama entitled 
"The Honest Lawyer," composed in 1791-. 

During his stay in the town he taught one of the schools 
of the village, or town, probably with the view of obtaining 
means for a college education. It was during this period 



282 History of Princeton 

that he wrote for a public school exhibition the declama- 
tion so well known, beginning 

"You'd scarce expect one of my age 
To speak in public on the stage." 

This will be spoken of more in detail later in these pages. 
Other writings of his, including school-boy declamations, 
and also some more mature articles were probably pro- 
duced during his stay in New Ipswich, and during his 
college course. Some of these were published in the first 
edition of the "Columbian Orator," issued in 1797, and 
show extensive reading, and a marked versatility of talent 
as a writer. 

He entered Dartmouth College and graduated in 1795. 
On that occasion he had the honor of the valedictory poem 
in which he predicted the future of our country as follows: 

"The Muse prophetic views the coming day. 
When federal laws beyond the line shall sway; 
Where Spanish indolence inactive lies. 
And every art and every virtue dies,- 
Where pride and avarice their empire hold, 
Ignobly great, and poor amid their gold,- 
Columbia's genius shall the mind inspire, 
And fill each breast with patriotic fire. 
Nor east nor western oceans shall confine 
The generous flame that dignifies the mind; 
O'er all the earth shall Freedom's banner wave. 
The tyrant blast, and liberate the slave; 
Plenty and peace shall spread from pole to pole, 
Till earth's grand family possess one soul." 

After his graduation he went to Boston to study law, and 
was subsequently admitted to the bar. He taught for 
a time in one of the Boston schools. During this time he 
was a contributor to "The Nightingale" a "Melange de 
Litterature" published in Boston. Lemuel Shaw, after- 
ward Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Massachu- 
setts, studied law under Mr. Everett, and when the latter 



Biography 283 

removed to Amherst, N. H., where in addition to the law 
he did some Hterary work, Mr. Shaw went with him. 

Judge Shaw always maintained a high opinion of Mr. 
Everett's character and ability, and felt "under great 
obligation to him." Yet Mr. Shaw did not rise rapidly 
to distinction, and Judge Thomas in the American Law 
Review of Oct. 1867 remarks, "during these years of small 
beginnings perhaps the future chief justice found encour- 
agement in the lines of Mr. Everett, "Large streams from 
little fountains flow." 

The marriage of Mr. Everett to Dorothy, daughter of 
Isaac Appleton of New Ipswich, took place Dec. 29, 1799. 
She survived him, dying Jan. 16, 1859 at New Ipswich, 
to which place she had returned soon after his death. 
They had no children. 

From Amherst Mr. Everett returned to Boston and to the 
practice of law there. In 1809 he established the " Boston 
Patriot" devoted to the interests of the Democratic party. 
It was in this paper that Ex-President John Adams, who 
had become disaffected toward the Federal party, wrote 
historical reminiscences and political essays. In 1812 he 
conducted "The Yankee" and engaged also in "The 
Pilot" which had only a brief existence. 

He was appointed in 181 1 Registrar of Probate for 
Suffolk Co. by Gov. Gerry, who on taking office had re- 
moved a number of officials throughout the State. On 
the accession of Gov. Strong, however, the former officials 
were reinstated, and, consequently, Mr. Everett held the 
office but eight months. This change in his prospects 
necessitated new plans for the future, and the condition 
of his health requiring a change of residence, he went to 
Marietta, Ohio, probably by the way of Wheeling, Va. 
At Marietta he, with others, doubtless by previous ar- 
rangement, established a newspaper called the "American 
Friend." But after eight months of connection with it 
he died, Dec. 21, 1813, at the age of forty-three years and 
nine months. 

A month after his arrival at Marietta the first issue of 



284 History of Princeton 

the "American Friend" had appeared bearing the date 
April 26, 18 13. In his address to the public, he says the 
editor "feels himself impelled by every principle that 
actuates his heart to give his utmost aid to the great cause 
in which we are engaged, in the vindication of the dear 
bought and invaluable rights of America against a haughty, 
powerful, persevering, and unprincipled foe. Believing 
in the sincerity of his soul that heaven is in our side, and 
will ultimately crown our struggles with success, he can- 
not forbear, on this and all occasions, to protest against 
that treachery to our own country, and that blasphemy 
against heaven, which extol her as the protectress of our 
rights, and the bulwark of our religion. While he pays 
particular attention to subjects of great national concern, 
it will be his aim to present his readers that variety of 
miscellaneous matter and current news which are expected 
in a public journal." The first issue of the paper after 
his death contained the following obituary notice: 

Obituary. 

Died in this town on the morning of Dec. 21st. 1813, of 
a lingering consumption, which he bore with the fortitude 
of a philosophical mind, David Everett, Esq., the editor 
of the American Friend, aged 44 years. The interment 
of his remains was performed with masonic honors, on 
the 22nd. inst., and his funeral attended by a large con- 
course of friends, acquaintances and citizens, collected on 
the melancholy occasion, to pay the last sad duties to him 
whose virtues commanded the highest respect and esteem, 
and whose remembrance will ever be dwelt upon with 
melancholy sensations. 

Mr. Everett was a native of Massachusetts, and was 
regularly educated to the profession of Law. For some 
years previous to his emigration to this State, he resided 
in Boston; where he conducted, as editor, several news- 
papers of distinguished celebrity. 

From his youth he devoted his attention to literature, 
and to the culture of a mind naturally strong and capacious. 



Biography 285 

His unremitted industry, and the sedentary habits of his 
life, gradually enfeebled his constitution. To endeavor to 
restore his health by the salubrious air of a milder climate, 
he left Boston in January, 18 13, and arrived at Marietta the 
March following. Here he re-commenced his labors as an 
editor, and his assiduity to effect the object of his highest 
ambition, to be useful to his country by disseminating, 
through the medium of a weekly newspaper, correct politi- 
cal principles, and general literature, completed the ruin 
of his health, and deprived the State of one of its most 
estimable literary characters, and the republic of a firm 
patriot. 

Mr. Everett was the author of many valuable works, in 
which he displayed splendid talents, a prolific imagination, 
and an exalted genius. In some of his literary productions 
the force and sublimity of his thoughts, the purity and 
elegance of his style delight the reader of correct taste. 
In those of a political nature, his mind proves itself acute, 
penetrating and capable of illustrating the most abstruse 
subjects, — his arguments are strong, conclusive, and like 
a torrent bear down every opposing barrier, and force 
conviction upon the mind. 

As an editor, he invariably wrote the impulses of an 
honest heart, with the boldness of an independent mind. 
He despised that servility which would flatter, fawn around, 
and crouch to a man invested with popular favor, or 
clothed with "a little brief authority." He detested the 
sycophant, and abhorred the demagogue. He was a 
republican in principle, and a strenuous advocate for his 
country's rights; and his proud soul could never brook 
an infringement of those rights, by an insolent foe, without 
feeling and expressing the liveliest indignation. 

Such was David Everett — a philanthropist — a patriot 
— and a man of undoubted integrity and honour. 

Although he died in middle life, his literary work was 
quite extensive. Beside his labors as editor he made con- 
tributions to various papers, and delivered addresses upon 
national topics. 



286 History of Princeton 

His services for Fourth of July orations were frequently 
in demand and during President Madison's term of office 
he freely discussed national affairs in the papers he edited. 
He also delivered addresses on Free Masonry in which he 
had early become interested as a member of St. John's 
Lodge, Boston. 

His style was keen and incisive, especially in his political 
writings, but he was not known to descend to low abuse. 
His love of poetry frequently showed itself, especially in 
his pamphlets, and he found a delight in dramatic composi- 
tion. His knowledge of the classics is plainly seen, an 
aptness for satire is often in evidence, and a regard for 
youth is apparent, especially in his early manhood, by 
his writings for their benefit. 

The "Columbian Orator" in its first edition, 1797, con- 
tains several selections from the pen of Mr. Everett. 
Among these is the well-known juvenile declamation as 
follows : 

You'd scarce expect one of my age, 

To speak in public on the stage; 

And if I chance to fall below 
Demosthenes or Cicero, 

Don't view me with a critic's eye. 
But pass my imperfections by. 

Large streams from little fountains flow; 
Tall oaks from little acorns grow; 

And though I now am small and young. 
Of judgment weak, and feeble tongue; 

Yet all great learned men like me, 
Once learned to read their A, B, C. 

But why may not Columbia's soil 
Rear men as great as Britian's isle; 

Exceed what Greece and Rome have done, 
Or any land beneath the sun? 

Mayn't Massachusetts boast as great 
As any other sister state? 

Or where's the town, go far and near, 
That does not find a rival here? 



Biography 287 

Or where's the boy, but three feet high, 
Who's made improvements more than I? 

These thoughts inspire my youthful mind 
To be the greatest of mankind; 

Great, not Hke Caesar, stained with blood; 
But only great, as I am good. 

This is written by him in New Ipswich, N. H., in 1791 
to be spoken at a public school exhibition by a boy seven 
years of age. The boy was Ephraim H. Farrar, son of 
Rev. Stephen Farrar, the first minister of New Ipswich. 
There is no evidence that the poem led Mr. Farrar to the 
practice of oratory, but he became a teacher in Boston 
being a writing master in the school of Lawson Lyon in 
1813. He had as pupils Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, Rev. 
Samuel J. May, Rev. Ralph Waldo Emerson and others 
who rose to eminence. After many years spent in Boston, 
he returned to New Ipswich where he died Jan. 8, 1851. 
Mr. Farrar related that the poem was handed to him in 
manuscript by Mr. Everett and he had always considered 
it as belonging to himself. "When therefore," he says, 
"I saw in a printed copy the substitution of two words 
for two in the original, namely, 'Massachusetts' and 
'sister' for New Hampshire and Federal, I thought there 
was either a gross mistake in the printer or an infringe- 
ment upon my rights. Whether this was done by the 
author or not I am not able to say. I am rather inclined 
to think the latter was, for he afterwards became a politi- 
cian of the Jefferson school, and edited a paper called The 
Patriot and the word Federal became extremely obnoxious 
to many of that party. But that my native state should 
receive such an insult I felt very indignant." He adds that, 
after a residence of some years in Massachusetts, seeing 
that every little boy read the piece as if it were his own, 
he became reconciled to the change, provided that every 
boy who spoke the piece should have the liberty to sub- 
stitute the name of his own state. 

It is interesting to learn that at the centennial celebra- 



288 History of Princeton 

tion in New Ipswich, Sept. 1850, Mr. Farrar was called 
to personate the youth for whom that effusion was written, 
and immediately rising, merely repeated the first two 
lines, 

"You'd scarce expect one of my age 
To speak in public on the stage." 

which moved the audience to laughter. 

The lines were frequently attributed to Edward Everett, 
but, at a public examination of the High School in Cam- 
bridge, Mass., he corrected that opinion and said they 
were written by a distant relative. 

Many imitations and parodies of these lines have been 
written, to which they easily lend themselves, but the 
following must suffice: 

You'd scarce expect one of my age 
To speak in public on the stage — 
That was the tune you all well know 
For children, fifty years ago. 
We modern children don't profess 
To understand such silliness. 
We have to meet your expectations 
For better juvenile orations. 

We know we are young and weak. 
To stand before a crowd to speak, 
But mighty oaks from acorns grow, 
And some of us, for aught we know, 
May climb the hills of Fame 
And make a great and lasting name. 

Everett was evidently familiar with the Latin classics and 
when he wrote these lines he may have had in mind a 
passage in the poet Juvenal, Satire X, 114-117, in which 
Cicero and Demosthenes are held up as models of oratory 
for the ambitious boy. These lines of Juvenal have been 
thus translated: 



Biography 289 

"The urchin whom a slave conducts to school, 
Has scarce acquired his first and earliest rule, 
Ere ardent hopes his little bosom seize, 
To rival Tully or Demosthenes." 

It is noticeable that while Everett's urchin modestly dis- 
claims rivalry, Juvenal's urchin seeks it. 

In addition to this juvenile poem of Everett the Colum- 
bian Orator contains the following from his pen: 

Slaves in Barbary, a drama in two acts. 

The Conjuror, a dialogue. 

A general description of America — An extract from a poem 
spoken at Dartmouth on Commencement Day, 1795. 

The Last Day, an extract from a manuscript poem. 

A dialogue between an inhabitant of the United States 
and an Indian. 

A dialogue between Edward and Harry. 

A forensic dispute on the question, "Are the Anglo- 
Americans endowed with capacity and genius equal 
to Europeans?" 

A list of his other writings is as follows: 

Common Sense in Dishabille, appearing first in a series 
of papers in the "Farmer's Weekly Museum," 1797, 
and afterwards published in book form. 

Duranzel, the Persian Poet, a tragedy in five acts per- 
formed at the Federal St. Theatre, in Boston. 

Demonstration of the truth of the Scriptures as fulfilled 
in the Prophecies (devoted to proving the people of 
the United States to be distinctly alluded to by Daniel 
and St. John). 

Poem 1901, before Phi Beta Kappa, Cambridge. 

Oration July 4, 1804 at Amherst, N. H. 

Oration July 4, 1809, before Bunker Hill Association. 

Play (in manuscript) entitled, "The Honest Lawyer," 
New Ipswich. 

Essay, 1807, On the Rights and Duties of Nations. 
(Relative to Fugitives from Justice considered with 
reference to the Chesapeake case.) 



290 History of Princeton 

(An Appendix to this, 1808, is titled the 56th edition, 
and an Addition is made entitled, "Embargo on 
Common Sense, Taken off by U. S.") * 

A satirical poem also appears beginning as follows : 

"Hail Britannia, wondrous land, 
Whose floating bulwarks guard our strand 
Or bear thy thunders o'er the wave 
And greatly deal thy bolts to save. 
Cannon! Proclaim your sovereign might. 
And tell the world that power is right." 

Report on Contested Elections in Belchertown 181 1. 
Address on "Principles of Free Masonry" Oct. 6, 1803 

before St. John's Lodge, Boston. 
Address, "Vindication of Free Masonry," Sept. 28, 1803 

at Washington, N. H. 
Oration at Marietta, Ohio, July 5, 18 13. 
In the "American Friend" of Aug. 7, 1813, he criticises 
Webster's Resolutions in Congress, and later announces 
his intention to issue a history of the War of 1812, 
I find that the "Common Sense in Dishabille," in the 
Farmers' Museum, began in the issue of May 17, 1797 and 
there is no hint as to the author. The following para- 
graph heads the first article under the above title: — 

"To the Editor: — 

For a considerable time, I have had on hand, a small 
stock of raw materials, which with the help of a word 
mill, a few rhetorical figures and borrowed ornaments, might 
pass current, with those superior geniuses, who can judge 
of the merit of a man by his coat, or feel the glow of en- 
thusiam at the sight of a painted cheek or fine gown. To 
accommodate those who are not possessed of this happy 
talent and save myself the trouble of reading rules of 

* Note — on the title page is found the following: 

"Your legs so long, your stride so fast, 
Run as we may, we come out last." 



Biography 291 

authorship, I shall adopt a less expensive mode of writing. 
My pen shall extemporize, my ideas shall spend no time 
at the toilet, but parade themselves as fast as they are 
summoned by this important marshall of the paper field. 
Without any futher ceremony, if you give your consent, 
I will open my little retail shop in one corner of your 
Farmers' Museum, where probably I shall continue to 
carry on my business until the ground is occupied by better 
tenants, or I am obliged to shut up for want of stock. My 
sign shall be ' Common Sense in Dishabille.' " 

Extracts from the first article appearing under "Com- 
mon Sense in Dishabille:" — 

"It is seldom addressed to one in Latin or Greek but 
in plain English. Quit your pillow, and go about your 
business, if you have any, is its first injunction: if not, 
seek some. 

" Let the sun's first beams shine on your head in the 
morning, and you shall not want a good hat to defend your 
head against the scorching rays at noon; earn your break- 
fast before you eat it, and the sheriff shall not deprive 
you of your supper," etc. 

The following subjects were discussed in succeeding 
issues: — 

The Poor Woman. 

Short Way to Poverty. 

The Pound. 

Win Gold and Wear It. 

Earn Industriously and Spend Prudently. 

He Cuts a Dash. 

The Penknife. 

Family Government, — several articles. 

Liberty and Equality. 

Tommy Tiptoe's Case. 

School Government. 

He is a Genius. 

Nature's University. 



292 History of Princeton 

Every One to His Trade. What Shall a Man Do Who 
Has No Trade? Learn One. 

To-morrow. 

A Penny Saved is Twopence Earned. 

Shoes. 

A Stitch in Time Saves Nine. 

Cure for the Hypo. 

The Unruly Horse. 

Bought Wit. 

There is No Friendship in Trade; or the Author's Sec- 
ond Coat. 

The Worth of Man; or the Man of Worth. 

The last-mentioned article occurred in Dec. 26, 1797, 
and I could find nothing further in 1798 or 1799. 

If Mr. Everett wrote political articles it was not over 
his signature. 

I noticed in the Massachusetts Spy, under date of Mar. 
13. I799> an advertisement of a pamphlet just put on sale 
at the bookstore in Worcester, written by Peter Pencil, 
containing the articles which appeared in the Farmers' 
Museum, under the head of " Common Sense in Dishabille," 
also several essays never before published, a New Year's 
poem for 1798, a Perpetual Calendar, etc. It goes on to 
say, "The general circulation of the numbers under the 
title 'Common Sense in Dishabille' that have already been 
published and the avidity with which they are read by all 
classes, precludes the necessity of any encomium on the work. 
The writings of Peter Pencil have been sparingly exhibited 
to the public; but produced copious applause from the 
amateurs. The 12 essays of the Economical Almanack, 
adapted to each month in the year, have never appeared 
in print before. 

" They are fraught with useful observations communi- 
cated in an easy, familiar style, and dictated by sound 
judgment and correct style. 

" On the whole I think this little volume will afford as 
much 'useful information' and 'innocent amusement' as 



Biography 293 

any of its size that have been offered to the public, and 
may safely be recommended to the youth of the country, 
to industrious mechanics and farmers, and to the library 
of every patron of useful and ingenious American Publi- 
cations." Among the many parodies that have appeared 
is the following: 

From Temperance Selections 
Edited by John H. Becktel. 
Penn. Pub. Co. 

You'd scarce expect one of my age 
To plead for temperance on the stage; 
And should I chance to fall below 
Portraying all the drunkard's woe, 
Don't view me with a critic's eye. 
Nor pass my simple story by. 

Large streams from little fountains flow; 
Great sots from moderate drinkers grow; 
And though I am so small and young. 
No rum shall ever touch my tongue! 
Now, where's the town, go far or near. 
That sells the rum that we do here? 
Or where's the boy but three feet high 
That hates the traffic more than I? 

(No author) 

Authorities. 

Am. Antiquarian Socy's Proceedings, Oct. 1889, by Dr. A. P. Peabody. 
Buckingham, Vol. II, Am. Law Review, Oct. 1867, Judges Thomas and Shaw. 
Genealogical Memorial Biographies, Vol. IV.j 
The Hundred Boston Orators. 
History of Marietta, Ohio. 
History of New Ipswich, N. H. 



294 History of Princeton 

Edward Savage, the portrait painter and engraver, was 
born in Princeton, Massachusetts, November 26, 1761. 

He was the second child of Seth and Lydia (Craige) 
Savage and grandson of Edward Savage who came to 
Massachusetts in 1696 from Ireland, whither his father, 
Abraham Sauvage, had been driven from St. Algis, PIcardy 
in France, by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. 

Savage is said to have been originally a goldsmith, a 
trade that has graduated not a few engravers. He could 
not, however, have followed it for any great length of time, 
as he was only twenty-eight when he left Massachusetts 
for New York, with a letter to Gen. Washington from the 
president of Harvard requesting him to sit for his portrait 
for the University. 

The portrait for Harvard was begun in New York, 
December 21, 1789, and finished January 6, 1790, as we 
learn from Washington's diary: although it seems not to 
have been delivered to Harvard until the end of the follow- 
ing year. 

"This is the first knowledge we have of Savage as an 
artist and we are in profound ignorance of what preparation 
he had to essay so important a commission. That he had 
some experience, and perhaps instruction, goes without 
saying, for even though his portrait of Washington is not 
the best art, yet it could not have been painted by an abso- 
lutely inexperienced tyro."* 

In 1 79 1, Savage went to London where he is said to have 
studied under Benjamin West, and it is inferred that he 
visited Italy, from the inscription on the whole-length 
portrait of Columbus, engraved by Edwin and published 
by Savage, at Philadelphia in 1800, which states that the 
portrait of Columbus is copied from the original picture, 
by E. Savage, in the collection of the Grand Duke of Tus- 
cany, at Florence. 

While in London he learned to engrave in stipple and 
mezzotint, as his portrait of General Knox was published 

* Mass. Hist. Soc, 1858-60, Paper by Mr. Charles Henry Hart, Phila- 
delphia, corresponding member. 





UrViAr- 




^:Ajn^<^ 



^^ 



Biography 295 

in that city in 1791, his Harvard Washington in 1792, and 
in 1793, his well-known portrait of Washington seated at a 
table, upon which are a cocked hat and a plan of the city 
of W^ashington. 

In 1794 Savage returned to the United States and was 
married at Boston, on October 13, 1794, to Sarah Seaver. 
Soon after this, he removed to Philadelphia, where his 
brother, John Savage, was located in business. In 1795 
he exhibited the first panorama ever seen in that city, and 
he apparently remained in Philadelphia publishing prints 
at intervals until 1801, when his name disappears from the 
Philadelphia directory, where he was down as "Historical 
Painter." He then seemingly went to New York and from 
there to Massachusetts, as his fifth child was born in New 
York in 1802 and his sixth child in Princeton in 1805. 

There are no completed engravings by Savage after his 
leaving Philadelphia bearing a later date or issued from 
another place, but the copper-plate of the picture of 
"The Congress Voting Independence" was doubtless his 
latest work and left unfinished at his death. This interest- 
ing plate belongs to the Massachusetts Historical Society. 

During the early part of the century Savage became 
interested in a museum in Boston, called the New York 
Museum, part painting gallery and part museum, which 
was opened in Boylston Hall in 1812. In July, 1818, the 
New England Museum was opened at 76 Court Street by 
Ethan A. Greenwood. It was commenced with the col- 
lection of curiosities, paintings, etc., owned by Edward 
Savage, recently deceased. 

This property consisted of the paintings of Washington 
and his family, Columbus, Liberty, and seventy other 
paintings, besides a large collection of curiosities, birds, 
insects, fishes, etc., the whole valued at $6543. 

The New Haven, The Boston, The Market, and the 
Columbian Museums and the Museum of the Linnean 
Society were successively purchased and added to this 
establishment, together with various collections from other 
sources. Mr. Greenwood sold his collection to Mr. Moses 



296 History of Princeton 

Kimball and the better part of the property or that which 
was worth saving formed the nucleus of the Boston 
Museum of later time. 

In addition to the Museum venture Savage invested in 
the Poignand and Plant Cotton factory in Lancaster, Mass., 
built in 1809, one of the earliest of its kind sucessfully run 
in America. The president was David Poignand de- 
scribed as "A dapper, urbane gentleman of French Hugue- 
not descent." His partner was his son-in-law, Samuel 
Plant, an Englishman w^ho had been in America about 
twenty years as agent for a great cloth manufacturer of 
Leeds. They had also two able assistants, Capt. Thomas 
W. Lyon, an ingenious machinist, and Edward Savage the 
silent partner who helped furnish the necessary capital. 

It would seem, however, that these outside enterprises 
did not interfere wholly with the work of Savage as an 
artist, for Rev. George Allen of Worcester in reminiscences 
of his Yale college life 1809-13, says "at New Haven I 
became acquainted with Savage the Princeton artist and 
portrait painter. He remained some time at my boarding 
place and as my room had the best light, he made use of it 
to copy a portrait of Roger Sherman. I found him an 
agreeable person."* 

Mr. Hart's article describes Edward Savage as "a man 
of medium height, inclined to stoutness, quick in his move- 
ments, with brown hair and blue-gray eyes. Saint Memin 
drew and engraved a fine profile portrait of him, which 
shows a strong head with a keen eye." 

The Goodspeed Collection of Savage Prints, now in the 
possession of the Worcester Art Museum, contains a nearly 
complete series of his engravings of Washington and his 
family, most of which are after paintings by Savage himself. 
It also includes three good miniature portraits on ivory 
painted by his own hand, one of himself and one of his wife, 
painted before their marriage, and one of Edward Seaver, 
a brother of Mrs. Savage. 

* Reminiscences of the Rev. George Allen, page 55. 




SARAH (SEAVER) SAVAGE 




EDWARD SAVAC;E 



Biography 297 

Edward Savage died suddenly in Princeton, Mass., 
July 6, 181 7, and Mrs. Savage died in Lancaster, Mass., 
January 27, 1861.* 

Daniel Davis was born in Princeton, of a mechanical 
family, worked on his father's farm until he was twenty- 
one, and went to Boston in 1833. His first work in that 
city was pumping soda for Mr. Darling, who then had a 
large soda factory in Franklin Avenue. Being greatly 
interested in electrical experiments, he soon became ac- 
quainted with Dr. William King, who had a shop on Corn- 
hill, who manufactured static electrical machines and also 
constructed and put up lightning rods. 

Mr. Davis soon found employment with him. His first 
job was constructing and putting up the rod on the court 
house in Boston. This was made of fiat copper ribbon. 
He also constructed and put up the rods on the buildings 
in the Charlestown Navy Yard. In 1835 he began busi- 
ness for himself at No. II Cornhill, in partnership with the 
late John Temple, under the firm name of Davis & Temple. 
In 1837 Mr. Davis bought out the interest of his partner 
and commenced the manufacture of electro-magnetic ap- 
paratus. At that earl}^ day there was no practical use for 
electricity, and his principal business was manufacturing 
and constructing apparatus to illustrate the general princi- 
ples of voltaic and dynamic electricity, and in connection 
with the late Dr. Charles G. Page invented many of the 
electric circuits, movements and machines that are now 
in use. They continued their experiments together until 
the fall of 1839, when Dr. Page accepted a position in 
Washington as examiner of electric patents. Mr. Davis's 
business increased very rapidly, he being the only man in 

* In taking down the Savage house I found a brick in the chimney which 
was marked when soft 1752. The brick was made on the place: /. F. Thomp- 
son. — Mr. Thompson bought the place of Hemingway the owner of the 
Factory place and took down the house about 1850 — 

Samuel Thompson 1 brothers of Isaac i®* died 
James Thompson J in Hubbardston 

All three were Revolutionary Soldiers from Princeton. 



298 History of Princeton 

the United States at this time who made electro-magnetic 
apparatus. 

He was a man who did not believe in patents. Had he 
patented some of his inventions he would have died a 
millionaire. He invented the art of electrotyping in cop- 
per, wood-cuts and type such as are used to-day, and gave 
his invention to the world. In 1846 he electrotyped in 
copper the arm of a child, which has been lately claimed as 
a new invention. In 1840 Professor Gareaux of Paris 
arrived in Boston with the invention of Daguerre. Mr. 
Davis made a set of apparatus and probably took the first 
daguerrotype taken in this country. This first picture 
taken in Boston was the German Catholic church on 
Suffolk street, now Shawmut Avenue. At that time there 
were no houses in that vicinity. A gentleman who stood 
at the corner of the church when the picture was taken 
held his cane in his right hand, but when the plate was 
developed and finished, to the astonishment of all, the cane 
was in the left hand. This puzzled the operator some 
time, until he learned that the picture, being on an opaque 
surface, was reversed. 

With the assistance of his brother, Ari Davis, Elias Howe, 
the famous sewing machine inventor, made his first ma- 
chine in his shop. 

Mr. Davis was also the first man in this country who did 
electro gold and silver plating, and taught the art. In 
1844 Professor Morse had just introduced his telegraph, 
but it was a very rude and impracticable machine, and it 
was put into Mr. Davis's hands for improvement and he 
put it in its present state. He received several gold medals 
from various exhibitions for his inventions and skill as a 
manufacturer. His shop was the headquarters for pro- 
fessors, scientists and electricians for many years. It was 
frequented by Dr. Hare, Professors Webster, Hitchcock, 
Silliman, Henry, Abbott, Farmer and Channing and most 
of the scientific men of the time. Mr. Davis would be in 
his shirt sleeves trying some new experiment, with the 
professors crowding around him as much interested in his 
work as himself. 




EDWARD A. r.OODNOW 



Biography 299 

At that time probably no man in this country had such 
a thorough practical knowledge of electricity and he will 
long be remembered through his work on magnetism en- 
titled "A Manual of Magnetism, including Galvanism, 
Magnetism, Electro-Magnetism, Electro- Dynamics, Mag- 
neto-Electricity and Thermo-Electricity." It contained 
about 180 original illustrations. 

The first edition came out in 1842; but it ran through 
several editions, and is now out of print. Originally 
published more to advertise the wares of Mr. Davis, and 
as a means of calling attention to his business, than as a 
text-book of electro-technics, its value as a vade-mecum of 
electrical information was at once seen and it appeared that 
he had builded l)etter than he knew. The first edition of 
1842, and the second edition, which was published in 1847, 
were both written under the supervision of Drs. John 
Bacon, Jr., and William F. Channing, and hence acquired 
an elegance of style and a perspicuity of language, which, 
combined with the practical knowledge of Mr. Davis, 
assured the success of the book. It was adopted as a text- 
book by many colleges and high schools, becoming a great 
favorite especially in the United States Military Academy 
at West Point, for the sake of the many practical demon- 
strations shown within its pages. It has become extremely 
scarce, but it has ever been valued by those fortunate 
enough to possess a copy of it, and even now many of our 
ablest electricians are not ashamed to confess that they 
have learned much from Davis' Manual of Magnetism. 

In 1852 Mr. Davis retired to his farm in Princeton, where 
he passed the remainder of his days in agricultural pursuits. 

Edward Augustus Goodnow, distinguished as a financier 
of preeminent ability, and widely known as a philanthropist, 
born in Princeton, July 16, 1810, was a son of Edward 
and Rebecca (Beaman) Goodnow. He passed his boyhood 
life upon the farm, but was fortunate in obtaining more 
than the ordinary advantages afforded by the district 
schools in instruction for several terms at Hadley Academy. 
At the age of twenty he was employed by his elder brother, 



300 History of Princeton 

who kept a country store, and two years later entered into 
partnership with him. The business was afterwards en- 
larged to include the manufacture of palm-leaf hats and 
of shoes, an example of enterprise not common at that 
time. 

In 1847 Mr. Goodnow, seeking broader opportunities, 
engaged in the cutlery business at Shelburne Falls as a 
member of the firm of Lamson, Goodnow & Co. In 1852 
he became a resident of Worcester, and for four years en- 
gaged in the retail shoe trade, and in 1856 opened the first 
wholesale jobbing house in that city, in which enterprise 
his business reached an amount of nearly one-half million 
dollars in a year. In 1865 he retired from active mer- 
cantile life in the possession of a large fortune. In 1866 he 
became president of the First National Bank, in which 
office he greatly promoted the prosperity of the institution, 
so that its stock doubled its par value under his manage- 
ment. For years it was the only bank which allowed 
interest on deposits subject to check. He served in this 
office twenty-eight years. He was instrumental in the 
erection of the First National Bank building. 

Mr. Goodnow entered early into the anti-slavery move- 
ment, and during the War of the Rebellion gave freely of 
his means to sustain the government. He headed a sub- 
scription with $500 to help Governor Andrew enlist and 
equip the first regiment of colored troops. He subscribed 
for the first issue of government bonds. He also furnished 
thirteen clerks from his service for the army. He gave 
to the Worcester High School the memorial tablets in 
memory of fifteen students who fell in the war; also a 
bust of General Grant and a portrait of Harriet Beecher 
Stowe. Life size portraits of President Garfield and Vice- 
President Wilson grace Mechanics Hall through his gen- 
erosity. Several of his benefactions are memorials of his 
married life. His first wife was Harriet, daughter of 
Doctor Henry Bagg of Princeton, and subsequent to her 
death Mr. Goodnow married her sister, Mary Augusta. 
Of this marriage one son, Henry Bagg Goodnow, was born, 



Biography 301 

but did not survive infancy. The second wife died after 
five years of wedded life. Mr. Goodnow's third wife was 
Catherine B., daughter of Honorable Seth Caldwell of 
Barre, who after twenty-five years also passed away. His 
fourth wife, who survived him, was Sarah A. West. Mr. 
Goodnow, in connection with his gift of $40,000 to his 
native town to build the library building known as the 
Goodnow Memorial building, devoted $3000 ^ towards the 
building of a new town hall, which has been named Bagg 
Hall in memory of his first two wives and his son. In 
1887 he gave $5000 to found the Catherine B. Goodnow 
fund to the Young Women's Christian Association in 
Worcester, and later $25,000 more towards completing the 
building of this association. 

He has also been a benefactor of Plymouth Congrega- 
tional Church in Worcester, of which he was a member, 
presenting the chime of bells and its fine organ to that 
Society. 

As a friend to higher education Mr. Goodnow has par- 
ticularly distinguished himself. To Mount Holyoke College 
he gave $25,000, to Iowa College $15,000 to erect the Good- 
now Library and Observatory; and $5000 each to Wellesley 
College, the Moody School at Northfield, and Washburn 
College in Kansas. He also contributed to the funds of 
Oberlin College, Berea College, Lincoln College, and the 
Hampton Institute. He gave $25,000 to erect buildings 
for the Huguenot Seminary in Wellington, South Africa, 
and was the first American to contribute for the education 
of woman in South Africa. His total gifts for all purposes 
exceeded a quarter of a million dollars. 

He retained a good degree of health to an advanced age, 
and died at his home on Oak Street in Worcester on Feb- 
ruary first, 1906, in his ninety-sixth year. 

' His offer was $5000, and $2000 was used for other purposes. 



CHAPTER XII 

DIARY KEPT BY ELIZABETH FULLER, DAUGHTER OF 
REV. TIMOTHY FULLER OF PRINCETON 

This is a copy, except that a Jew items of Utile importance 
are omitted. 

Ill the short sentences of this quaintly worded Httle 
chronicle of a demure New Ent;land maiden, Elizabeth 
Fuller, there is a wholesome picture of tlie (lod-fearing 
honuvs of the period, when home makint; meant house- 
keejMng as well. Irresistible touches of humor, conscious 
and unconscious, run like a scarlet thread through the grey 
background of weaving, soap-making, neighborly visita- 
tions and household cares. 

Iler sui)reme satisfaction in her finished spring weaving, 
and the despair with which she writes on her sixteenth 
birthday "so many years passed in thoughtlessness and 
vanity," shows the puritanical influence of her forbears, 
and her natural upbringing as the daughter of a New Eng- 
land minister. The neighborliness of the country life of 
the time, and the sincerity of the men, women and children 
of the little town, who were her friends, and visitors at the 
j)arsonage, can be glimpsed between the lines. Her affec- 
tion for the older sister Sally, and her pride in brother 
Tim my, are very real as one reads the simple diary with 
the sometime monotonous daily happenings. For instance 
the appearance of "I wove today," and the little outburst 
of girlish j^etulance after a week of it, make her a human 
child after all, and her little chronicle interesting read- 
ing for girls and women of another century and sur- 
rouiuJings. 

302 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 303 

1790 

Oct. 4 — Mr. Pope was here, bought a pair of oxen of Pa. 
Mr. Keys at work here. 

5 — Pa went as clerk to the venchie of the estate that was 

Mr. Josiah Miricks. — Mr. Keys finished our 
lean to. 

6 — Pa went to vendue again. 

7 — Very pleasant to-day. I have to work very hard. 

10 — Sabbath Mr. Moore preached. 

11 — I washed to-day. 

12 — Pa got in his corn. Mr. Joseph Eveleth died last 

night. 

13 — Mrs. Perry, Miss Eliza Harris, Miss Sally Puffer, 

and Miss Hannah Haynes, and Warehani, and 
Rebekah Hastings were baptised by immersion. — 
I was fifteen to-day. 

14 — A hard storm. Mr. Eveleth was buried. 

18 — Pa and Ma set out for Sandwich. I am quite sick, 

don't sit up but very little. 
21 — I was so bad that we sent for Dr. Wilson. When he 
came he told me I had a settled Fever. 

1790 

Nov. 5 — Nathan Perry here about an hour this eve. I am a 
good deal better, have been out of my room two 
or three times. 8 o'clock Pa and Ma came home, 
we were over joyed to see them, but had done 
expecting them. 
7 — Sabbath, no preaching in town. 
II — Timmy went to mill. 

14 — Sabbath. Mr. Sparhawk preached, came here at 
night. 

19 — Nathan Perry here this evening. 

20 — Leonard Woods here this morn. Mrs. Perry here 

this afternoon a visiting. 

21 — Sabbath. Mr. Brown of Winchcndon [)reaelu'd. 

22 — Rcvd. Mr. Brown breakfasted with us this morning. 

He is an agreable pretty man. 

23 — Mr. (Gregory killed a cow for Pa. 

24 — We baked two ovensfull of pyes. — Mr. Nathan 

Perry here this eve. 

25 — Thanksgiving to-day we baked three ovensfull of 

pyes. There was no preaching so we had nothing 
to do but eat them. The pyes were a great deal 
better than they were last Thanksgiving for I 
made them all myself, and part of them were made 
of Hour which we got of Mr. H. Hastings therefore 
we had plenty of spice. 



304 History of Princeton 

26 — Mr. Ephriam Mirick here. Pa went to town meeting. 

27 — Mr. Gregory killed our hogs to-day. 

28 — There is no preaching in this town. There came a 

considerable snow last night. 
30 — Caty Eveleth was married the 22nd inst. 



1790 

Dec. I — I went to Mr. Perry's to make a visit this afternoon, 

had an excellent dish of tea and a shortcake. — 

Betsey Whitcomb at work there. Had a sociable 

afternoon. 

2 — Silas Perry here to-day before sunrise. Pa is very 

poorly having a very bad cough. I am a good deal 

afraid he will go into a consumption. 

Oh ! if my soul was formed for woe how would I vent 

my sighs 
My grief it would like rivers flow, from both my 

streaming eyes. 
I am disconsolate to-night. 
4 — I minced the Link meat. 
6 — Timmy has gone to the singing meeting. 
II — Sabbath. David Perry here to borrow our singing 
book. 

16 — John Brooks here killing our sheep. A severe snow 

storm. 

17 — Very cold. I made sixteen dozen of candles. 

19 — Sabbath cold enough to freeze fools but I was so wise 
I would have gone to meeting had not Ma kept 
me at home. I had not sense enough to more than 
balance my folly. Pa went to meeting, got there 
time enough to hear three hims and the prayer, but 
it was as much as ever he did. Mr. Lee preached. 

21 — James Mirick is here, says Ephraim is gone to Fitz- 

william to bring Mrs. Garfield and her household 
stuff down. 

22 — David Perry here to get Timmy to go to the singing 

school with him. 

24 — I scoured the pewter. Pa went to Fitchburg. 

26 — Sabbath. Stormy weather. We all stayed at 
home. Pretty warm. 

28 — Cold and pleasant to-day. Pa sold his mare, is to 
have eleven dollars and a cow. Pa and Timmy 
went to Mr. Holden's in Westminster to drive the 
cow home. She behaved so bad they did not get 
her farther than Mr. Dodd's. Mr. Woods here to 
borrow some books of Pa. 

30 — Very pleasant. Mr. Eveleth's personal estate ven- 
dued. Pa and Tim gone there. 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 305 

31 — Cloudy and cold. Mr. Nathan Perry here this 
evening. 

1791 

Jan. I — A very severe snow storm to-day. 
3 — Sabbath Fair & cold. 

3 — Cloudy & warm. Elisha Brooks here this afternoon. 
6 — warm & foggy the snow wastes very fast. Sam 
Mirick & Asaph Perry here a getting up wood. 

8 — Cold to-day. Timmy went to Mr. Perrys. Han- 

nah Brooks here. 

9 — Sabbath. I went to Meeting, rode on the colt. — I 

have not been before since October 17. 
(eve seven o'clock) Revd. Mr. Tucker, Mr. Johnes 
of Gerry, Lieut. Mirick & Lieutenant Russell came 
here to spend the eve. 
ID — Mr. Thomson here this P.M. Wareham Hastings 
and Sam Brooks here this eve. 

11 — Ephraim Mirick & Asaph Perry at work here. 

12 — I went to Mrs. Miricks to make a visit. Charles 

Mirick there. Nathan Perry here, this to divide 
newspapers. 

13 — Hannah Brooks here borrowed half a pound of wool. 

David Perry here to get Timmy to go to singing 
school. 

14 — I am a Passing Grammar. David Perry here. 

15 — Enoch Brooks here, brought home the wool. I am 

a studying today 

16 — Sabbath very warm and pleasant no meeting in 

town. I wish Mr. Crafts Brains would make 
haste and grow stronger for I really hate to stay at 
home such fine Sleighing riding & walking as 'tis 
now. 

17 — The Severest snow storm there has been this winter. 

I washed. 

18 — Fair but cold. I studied in the afternoon. Mr. 

Uriah Moore to get Pa to go to Lieut. Miricks to 
assist Mr. Ben. Clark in a law Suit between him 
& Amos Clark, said Amos is black Tonys son. it 
is called a Rule of law. 

19 — Pa went to Lieut. Miricks to assist Mr. Benja'" Clark. 

20 — I am writing Grammar. Nathan Perry had Pa's 

Horse to carry Caty and Lucretia Mirick to Col. 
Whetcombs. 

21 — I am a writing Grammar to-day. Pleasant weather. 

Nathan Perry put our Horse into their sleigh and 
carried Me to the singing school & back again. 
I had a fine ride and a line evening; they sung a 
great many Tunes, I sang with them. 



306 History of Princeton 

22 — Nathan Perry here this eve. till eight o'clock. 

23 — Sabbath. I went to church. Mr. Davis Preached. 
24 — I washed. Timmy went to Mr. Perrys in the eve. 

27 — Pa went to Mr. Cuttings this evening. 

28 — Pa went to Leominster. 

29 — Mrs. Hastings here and drank tea with us. 

30 — Sabbath snowy dull weather. Timmy went to 

church. Mr. Davis Preached. Pa & all the rest 
of our Family staid at home. 

31 — Mr. Benjamin Clark here to-day. 



1791 

Feb. I — Mr. Cutting here last eve. — Mr. Tom Ralph here 
this morn. — Mr. Hadley here to Dine. 

2 — James Mirick here to get our Colt. — Asaph Perry 

here, Pa paid him. 

3 — Tom Ralph here this morn. Nathan Perry came 

here about nine o'clock & staid until one. 

4 — Pa & Timmy Gone to Hubbardston after Rye. 

(eve.) Pa & Tim came home have bought fifteen 
Bushels Rye. John Brooks here. 

5 — Nathan Perry here this eve till seven o'clock. 

6 — Sabbath. I went to church in the P.M. Mr. Pay- 

son of Ringe Preached. 
8 — cold a severe storm. James Mirick here. 
""9 — storm weather, I am a picking blue wool. Nathan 
Perry here to-day. 

11 — Pleasant but cold. Mr. Parmenter here this eve. 

12 — Nathan Perry here. 

13 — Sabbath. I went to church Mr. Estabrook Preached 

14 — Mr. Perry here this eve. 

*I7 — Excessive cold, I do not know as there ever was a 
colder day. I picked wool. 

18 — Cold. I finished picking wool. 

19 — stormy. Nathan Perry here, brought some letters 

from Sally, they came by way of Worcester. 

20 — Sabbath, no Meeting but of antipedo baptists. 

21 — David Perry here. Mr. Perry here this eve a few 

moments. Pa is gone to Westminster. 
"^ 22 — I began to break the blue wool for Pa's coat, broke 
a pound & three quarters in the P.M. Pa went 
to Sterling. 

23 — I broke four Pounds of blue Wool to-day. 

24 — I finished breaking wool. Mr. Stephen Brigham 

here. 

26 — Elisha Brooks here. 

27 — Sabbath no Preaching. 

28 — very warm South wind & rain. I washed to-day. 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 307 

1791 

Mar. I — Pa went to Mr. Stephen Brighams to write his will. 
Ma began to spin the wool for Pa's coat. I card 
for her & do the household work. 

2 — Ma is a spinning. 

3 — ■ Ma spun three skeins. — • Nathan Perry here. — Pa 

is gone to Mr. Hastings this eve. 

4 — ■ Mrs. Perry here to spend the afternoon. 

5 — Ma spun. 

6 — Sabbath, no Meeting in Town. 

7 — very warm. Anna Perry here visiting. — I made 

18 dozen of candles & washed. 

8 — Ma spun. 

9 — Miss Eunice Mirick here a visiting this afternoon. 
10 — Warm and rainy. — Francis Eveleth here to borrow 

our singing Book. Ma spun. 

II — Rainy weather. Mr. Thomson here to-day after 
rates. Mr. Parmenter here, bought two calf 
skins of Pa, gave him ten shillings apiece. — David 
Perry here. — Timmy went to Mr. Brooks. 

12 — David Perry here to-day. 

13 — -Sabbath no Meeting. 

14 — March Meeting Mr. Crafts asked a dismission, had 

his request granted without the least difficulty, so 
now we are once more a free people ha ha, he is 
going to Weymouth to keep shop a going out of 
Town this week 'tis thought he has not much to 
carry with him I do not know nor care what he has. 

15 — Revd. Mr. Rice & Mr. Isaac Thomson here. Mr. 

Rice Dined here. 

16 — Pa went to Mr. Bangs to-day. 

18 — Capt. Clark here this evening. 

19 — John Brooks here to-day. — Nathan Perry here for 

the newspaper. — Ma spun two skeins & an half 
of filling yarn. 

20 — Sabbath. Pa went to church Mr. Saunders 

Preached, he is one of Stephen Baxters classmates, 
the going was so bad that none of the rest of our 
Family went to hear him. 

21 — Cold. Mr. Brooks here. 

22 — Pa went to Mr. Bangs. 

23 — 'Pa went to Mr. Rolphs to-day. On the 13th inst. 
Miss Caty Mirick was Married to Mr. Joshua 
Eveleth. 

24 — Mr. Brooks here to-day to get Pa to write a Deed of 

Mr. Hastingses Farm for him. 

25 — Ma finished spinning her blue Wool to-day. ^ 

26 — Ma went to Mrs. Miricks to get a slay Harness. 

Mrs. Caty Eveleth came home with her. 



3o8 History of Princeton 

27 — Sabbath very pleasant I went to church. Mr. 

Rolph Preached. — Esqr. Woolson here to tarry- 
all night. 

28 — Esqr. Woolson went from here this morning. A 

man here to-day that was both deaf and dumb, he 
is Son to a Merchant in London, he went to sea & 
the ship was struck with Lightning & which 
occasioned his being deaf & dumb, he could write 
wrote a good deal here. He was a good looking 
young Man, about 25 he wrote his name Joel 
Smith. I really pitied him. I went to Mrs, 
Miricks & warped the piece. 
V 29 — Mrs. Garfield came here to show me how to draw in 
Piece did not stay but about half an hour. 

30 — I tyed in the Piece & wove two yards. 

31 — Fast. I went to Meeting all day. Mr. Rolph 
preached half of the day & Mr. Saunders the other 
half. Mr. Saunders is a very good Preacher & a 
handsome Man. — David Perry here this evening 
to sing with us. 

1791 

April ^ I — I wove two yards and three quarters & three inches 
to-day & I think I did pretty well considering it 
was April Fool day. Mr. Brooks & Mr. Hastings 
here to get Pa to do some writing for them. 
V. 2 — I wove three yards and a quarter. 

3 — Sabbath. I went to church. — an anular eclipse of 

the sun, it was fair weather. 

4 — I wove five yards & a quarter. Mr. Cutting here 

this eve. 

5 — I wove four yards. Mrs. Garfield & Mrs. Eveleth 

who was once Caty Mirick here a visiting. — The 
real estate of Mr. Josiah Mirick deceased is ven- 
dued to-day. 

(eve) Timmy has got home from the vendue Mr. 
Cutting has bought the Farm gave 255£ Sam Mat- 
thews has bought the part of the Pew gave eight 
dollars. 

6 — I got out the White piece Mrs. Garfield warped 

the blue, came here & began to draw in the 
Piece. 

7 — I finished drawing in the Piece & wove a yard & a 

half. Sam Matthews here to-day. 

8 — I wove two yards & a quarter. 

9 — I wove two yards & a quarter. 

10 — Sabbath. I went to church in the A.M. Mamma 
went in the P.M. she has not been before since she 
came from Sandwich. 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 309 

11 — I wove a yard & a half. Parmela Mirick here to 

see me. 

12 — I wove to-day. 

13 — Mrs. Brooks here a visiting. I wove. 

14 — I got out the Piece in the A.M. Pa carried it to Mr. 

Deadmans. Miss EUza Harris here. 

15 — I began to spin Linnen spun 21 knots. I went to 

Mr. Perrys on an errand. Pa went to Mr. Mat- 
thews to write his will & some deeds. He has sold 
Dr. Wilson 20 acres of Land & given Sam a deed 
of some I believe about 25 acres. 

16 — Pa went to Mr. Matthews again. — I spun 21 

knots. 

17 — Sabbath I went to church all day Mr. Davis Preached 

Mr. Saunders is sick. 

18 — I spun two double skeins of Linnen. 

19 — I spun two double skeins. 

20 — I spun two double skeins. — Ma went to Mrs. 

Miricks for a visit was sent for home. — Revd. 
Daniel Fuller of Cape Ann here to see us. 

21 — Revd. Mr. Fuller went from here this morn. Ma 

went to Mrs. Miricks again. — I spun two skeins. 
— Sukey Eveleth & Nabby here to see Nancy. 

22 — I spun two double skeins O dear 

Quadville has murdered wit, & work will do as bad, 
for wit is always merry, but work does make me 
sad. 

23 — I spun two skeins. Nathan Perry here. — Ware- 

ham Hastings at work here. 

24 — I went to church. Mr. Thurston Preached. — Mr. 

Saunders is sick. 

25 — Leonard Woods here all this forenoon, brought Hol- 

yokes singing Book. Left it here. 

26 — Pa went to see Mr. Saunders. I Pricked some tunes 

out of Holyokes Singing Book. 

27 — I spun five skeins of linnen yarn. 

28 — I spun five skeins of linnen yarn. Pa went to 

Sterling. 

29 — I Pricked some Tunes out of Holyokes singing Book. 

I spun some. 

30 — I spun four skeins to-day. 



1791 

May I — Sabbath I went to Meeting to-day. 

2 — I spun five skeins to-day. 

3 — I spun five skeins to-day. 

4 — I spun two skeins to-day finished the Warp for this 

Piece. — Nathan Perry worked here this P.M. 



310 History of Princeton 

5 — I spun four skeins of tow for the filling to the Piece 

I have been spinning. Pa went to Worcester 
to get the newspaper. Nathan Perry here this 
eve. 

6 — I spun four Skeins to-day. 

7 — I spun four Skeins to-day. 

8 — Sabbath. I went to church A.M. Mr. Thurston 

preached. Mr. John Rolph & his Lady & Mr. 
Osburn her Brother & a Miss Anna Strong (a 
Lady courted by said Osbourn) came here after 
Meeting and drank Tea. 

9 — I spun four skeins. Mr. Thurston here this P.M. a 

visiting he is an agreeable Man appears much 
better out of the Pulpit than in. 

10 — I spun four Skeins to-day. 

11 — I spun four skeins. 

12 — I spun four skeins. Lucy Matthews here. 

13 — I spun four skeins. — Ma is making Soap. Rainy, 

14 — I spun four skeins. Ma finished making soap and it 

is very good. 

15 — I went to church A. M. Mr. Thurston Preached he 

is a . — Mr. Rolph drank Tea here. 

17 — I spun four skeins to-day. 

18 — I spun four skeins of linnen yarn to Make a Harness 

of. — • Ma is a breaking. 

19 — I spun two skeins and twisted the harness yarn. 

20 — Mrs. Garfield came here this Morning to show me 

how to make a Harness, did not stay but about 
half an Hour. — Mrs. Perry & Miss Eliza Harris 
here a visiting. 

21 — I went to Mrs. Miricks and warped the Piece. 

22 — I went to church in the A.M. Mr. Saunders 

preached gave us a good sermon his text Romans 
6th Chap. 23 verse. For the wages of Sin is 
Death. 

23 — I got in my Piece to-day wove a yard. 

24 — Wove two yards & an half. 

25 — Election. I wove three Yards to-day. — Mrs. Perry 
\ here a few moments. 

26 — I wove three Yards to-day. The two Mrs. Matthews 

here to Day. I liked Sam's Wife much better 
than I expected to. — Miss. Eliza Harris here 
about two Hours. 

27 — I wove five Yards to-day. 

29 — Pleasant weather. Pa went to Sterling. My Cousin 

Jacob Kembal of Amherst came here to-day. 

30 — General Election at Bolton. — Mr. Josiah Eveleth 

& Wife & Mrs. Garfield here on a visit. 



Diary hy Elizabeth Fuller 311 

1791 

June I — Moses Harrington carried off Mr. Hastings old 
shop. 

2 — Elisha Brooks here to-day. 

5 — I made myself a Shift. — Mrs. Perry here a visiting. 

Nathan Perry here this evening. 

6 — Sabbath. No Meeting in Town. Elisha Brooks 

here to see if there was a meeting. 

7 — I made myself a blue worsted Coat. 

8 — Aaron & Nathan Perry here. — Pamela Mirick here 

a visiting this afternoon. 

9 — Mrs. Brooks here a visiting. — I helped Sally make 

me a blue worsted Gown. 
10 — I helped Sally make me a brown Woolen Gown. 

12 — Sally cut out a striped lutestring Gown for me. 

13 — Sabbath I went to church. Mr. Green Preached. 

14 — Aaron Perry here. 

15 — I cut out a striped linnen Gown. — Sally finished 

my lutestring. 

16 — Rainy weather. Ma cut out a Coattee for me. — 

Salmon Houghton breakfasted with us. — Elisha 
Brooks spent the afternoon here. 

17 — Ma, Sally & I spent the afternoon at Mrs. Miricks. 

18 — Cool. Sally finished my Coattee. 

19 — I finished my striped linnen Gown. Mr. Soloman 

Davis here. 

20 — Sabbath. I went to Church, wore my lutestring, 

Sally wore hers we went to Mr. Richardsons & 
Dined. — rained at night. 

21 — Pleasant weather. Mr. Bush here. 

22 — Capt. Moore here to-day. Put in my dwiant Coat 

& Sally & I quilted it out before night. 

23 — Sally put in a Worsted Coat for herself and we 

quilted it out by the middle of the afternoon. .'-' 
Very pleasant weather. 

24 — I made myself a Shift. 

25 — Very hot weather. — Abishai Eveleth here. 

2^ — Rainy, unpleasant weather. I stayed at home all 
day. 

1792 

Jan. I — Sabbath. I went to church in the P.M. a severe 
snow storm. Mr. Goodrich preached his Text 
2nd Corinthians 13th Chap. 5th Verse. Examine 
yourselves whether ye be in the faith, prove your- 
selves; know ye not your own selves how that 
Christ be in you if you be not reprobates. 

3 — I spun two Skeins to-day. 



312 History of Princeton 

4 — Nathan Perry here to-day. I spun two Skeins 

to-day. 

5 — David Perry here. I spun two Skeins to-day. 

6 — Mr. Mirick & John Brooks got up Wood here to-day. 

I spun two Skeins to-day. very cold. 

7 — I spun two Skeins. Very cold. 

8 — Sabbath. I staid at home was very sick with a 

cold. — Pa & Sally went to Meeting in the P.M. — 
Mr. Parker of Hubbardston preached. — very cold 
indeed. 

9 — I spun two Skeins to-day. 

10 — I spun two Skeins & an half. John Gilbert & John 

Brooks got up Wood here to-day. 

11 — I spun three Skeins. Mr. Mirick and John Gilbert 

worked here all day. 

12 — Ma went to Mr. Brookes on a visit. Mr. Brooks 

went to Worcester, brought us a pacquet from 
Aunt Dwight she sent us a lawn apron three Hand- 
kerchiefs & a Sash. 

13 — A very severe snow storm. 

14 — I made me a Calico loose Gown. 

15 — Sabbath I stayed at home. 
, 16 — I spun two Skeins. 

17 — Mr. Cutting here this evening. 

18 — Nathan Perry here this morning. — Mr. Hobbs here 

this afternoon. 

19 — I spun to-day. 

20 — I spun two Skeins to-day. 

21 — I spun two Skeins to-day. 

22 — Sabbath. I stayed at home as did all the rest of the 

family except Timmy. 

23 — I spun Swingling Tow. Excessively cold. 

24 — I spun, very cold still no Travelling either on Horse- 

back or on foot. 

25 — Very cold. I spun. Wareham Hastings here this 

morn. 

26 — The pleasantest day that has been this fortnight. 

I spun. 
29 — Sabbath. I went to Church P.M. 
31 — I spun, Warm & rainy; thaws a good deal. 

1792 

Feb. I — I spun. Mrs. Hastings here to-day. 

2 — I spun. Mrs. Garfield here a visiting. — Mr. Hast- 
ings here to-day. 
■^3 — I spun to-day, very pleasant. — I finished my thread 
Stocking. 
4 — Mrs. Perry & Mrs. Nickols here a visiting this 
afternoon. 



Diary hy Elizabeth Fuller 313 

5 — Sabbath. Very pleasant. I went to church In the 

P.M. 

6 — Mr. John Rolph here to-day. he was ordained at 

Gouverneur (?) Creek a few Weeks ago is to move 
his Family to-morrow. 

7 — I spun to-day. David Perry here to-night. 

8 — I spun. I should think I might have spun up all the 

Swingling tow in America by this time. 

9 — I spun Swingling tow, have spun two Skeins a day 

every day for three Weeks past. 

10 — I spun Wool to-day. 

11 — I spun three Skeins of Wool. 

12 — Sabbath. I stayed at home. 

13 — Mr. & Mrs. Bangs here this evening a visiting. 

They broke seven Pounds of Wool. 

14 — Asaph Perry & Enoch Harrington here. — Mr. Perry 

here a few moments. — Ezra & Sam Brooks here 
this evening. 

15 — I broke W'ool to-day. Mr. Isaac Norcross here 

to-day. 

16 — I broke Wool. Ma went to Mr. Hastings's. 

19 — Sabbath no Meeting in Town. Sally & I went to 

Mr. Hastings's Elisha Brooks came home with us. 

20 — I finished breaking Wool and spun a Skein. 

21 — I carded and spun three skeins of warp. — Mr. 

Hastings & Family moved away. 

22 — Mrs. Garfield & Mrs. Betsey Garfield here. 

22 — I spun three Skeins. Mrs. Perry here a visiting. 

23 — I spun three Skeins. J. Brooks here. 

26 — No Meeting in Town, very Pleasant weather. 

27 — Mr. Bangs here this morning. I spun three Skeins. 

28 — I spun three Skeins finished the W^arp for our Cloaks. 

29 — I begun to spin the filling for our Cloaks, spun five 

Skeins. 



1792. 

Mar. I — I spun four Skeins to-day. very pleasant. 

3 — I spun four Skeins. Dr. Woolson came here to-day 

& dined & stayed till almost night, very warm 
& Pleasant. 

4 — Sabbath. Very warm & pleasant no meeting in 

Town to-day. 

5 — Mr. Nathan Perry spent the afternoon & evening 

here. 
8 — Sally went to Mrs. Miricks on a visit. 

10 — Stormy all day. Thundered & lightened in the 

evening. 

11 — Sabbath. No meeting in Town to-day. 



314 History of Princeton 

12 — I am a weaving our Cloaks. 

13 — Pa, Ma, Sally & I spent the afternoon at Mr. Brooks. 

Mr. & Mrs. Polly & Betsey Mason there, had a 
very agreeable visit. 

14 — Pa & Ma went to Mr. Silas Beaman's on a visit. — 

I got out my Piece there is fourteen yards & a half. 

15 — I got in a Piece for winter gowns. — Anna Perry & 

Susan Mirick here a visiting 
18 — Sabbath, no Meeting. 

21 — I got out my Piece; there is thirteen Yards & almost 

a half. 

22 — I went to Mr. Joshua Eveleths Mrs. Eveleth got to 

bed a week ago She has a Girl. Mr. T. Gleasons 
wife & his Daughter Polly there. 

23 — I got in a Piece of Linnen for Shirting. very 

warm. 
25 — Sabbath, no Meeting. 
27 — I wove. Mr. Crosset here this evening a visiting. 

He keeps School in this Town. 
29 — A day of publick fasting, no preaching in Town. 



1792 

Apr. I — Sabbath, no Meeting in town. 
X. 5 — I wove. Pa went to sterling. 

6 — I wove. Parmela Mirick here. Elisha Brooks 

here. 

7 — I finished weaving the linnen Piece, there is Thirty 

Yards of it. Nathan Perry here this evening. 

8 — Sabbath, very pleasant. 

9 — I drawed in a Piece of coarse Wool & wove four yards. 

11 — I wove half a Yard, got out the Piece. There is 

eleven Yards & an half. 

12 — I drawed in a Piece of blue Worsted. 
15 — Sabbath. I stayed at home 

20 — I got out the Piece there is sixteen Yards & an half. 

I got in the Piece for rag Coverlids. I wove four 

Yards. 
22 — Sabbath. Mr. Davis preached. I went to Church. 

24 — I wove five Yards got out the Piece, there is 25 Yards 

of it. 

25 — I spun four Skeins of tow. 

26 — I helped Sally alter my dark Callico Gown. 

27 — I began to draw in a Piece of linnen. 

28 — I finished drawing in the Piece & wove five Yards. 

29 — Sabbath. Mr. Davis Preached. I went to Church 

all day. Nathan Perry came home with me at 
night to get the Newspaper. 

30 — I wove eight yards. 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 315 

1792 

May I — I wove eight Yards. 

2 — I wove eight yards. 

3 — I wove two & an half Yards. Got out the Piece, 

there is thirty one Yards & an half; have finished 
my weaving for this year I have woven a hundred 
and forty Yards since the ninth of March. 

4 — I sewed. 

28 — I wove six yards & an half to-day. 

29 — Sabbath. I went to church in the A.M. Mr. Saun- 

ders Preached from Matthew 15th Chap. 28th 
verse. " Then Jesus answered and said O Woman 
great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou 
wilt." — Exceeding Hot to-day. 

30 — Mr. & Mrs. Hobbs & Mr. Saunders here a visiting 

to-day, Mr. Saunders is a very agreeable pretty 
^ Man. I wove three yards to-day. 

31 — I wove six yards & a half to Day. Silas Perry here 

^ a few Moments. 



1792 

June I — I wove five yards to-day got out the Piece, there is 
thirty six yards of it. Welcome sweet Liberty, 
once more to me. How have I longed to meet 
again with thee. 

2 — Pa went to Sterling. 

3 — Nathan Perry here. 

4 — Nathan Perry here, did not come into the house for 

fear he had got the Measles. 

5 — I went to church in the A.M. Mr. Saunders 

preached his Text second Corrinthians seventh 
Chap. loth Verse. " For Godly sorrow leadeth to 
repentance unto salvation." 

6 — Pa went to Mr. Perrys they have all got the Meazles. 

7 — Ma went to Mr. Brooks visiting. Pa went to Train- 

ing saw Mr. Saunders & a gentleman that Preached 
at Gardner there. 
9 — Nancy & Debby went to Mr. Simeon Aliens. 
10 — Pa went to Sterling. 

12 — Sabbath. I went to church Mr. Saunders his Text 

Luke 1 8th Chap, ist Verse "And he spake a par- 
able unto them, to this end, that Men ought always 
to pray & not to faint. 

13 — Lucretia Mirick here to see me this afternoon. 

14 — Ma cut out Pa's coat. Miss Eliza Harris here a few 

moments. 

15 — Ma is making Pa's coat. 

16 — Pa and Ma went to Esqr. Gills a visiting. 



31 6 History of Princeton 

17 — Ma at work on Pa's coat. 

18 — I worked hard & did nothing. 

19 — Sabbath rany weather Sacrament to-day. Ma 

went to Meeting. 

20 — My sister Patty Williams's birthday she is four 

years old. 

21 — Timmy went to Sterling. 

22 — Hannah Brooks here. 

23 — Polly Mirick here. 

25 — Pa went to Daniel Cheever's & got a Rope made. 

Pa stopped to see Mr. Saunders drank Tea with 
him. 

26 — Sabbath. I went to church Mr. Saunders Preached. 

Mr. David Brooks oldest Son died last night of the 
billions cholick he was taken with it on thursday 
last. 

27 — Mr. David Brookses Son was buried. 

28 — Anna Perry here I scoured the keeping room fioor. 
30 — Expected Sally home but she did not come. 

1792 

July I — Pa went to Rutland. Holton is a Year old. 

2 — Pa went to Sterling saw Mr. Pope he said he saw 

Uncle Tommy last Thursday who told him Sally 
had not got to Boston yet. I am afraid she is sick 
or some of the Folks where she is but I do not 
intend to be more concerned about her than I 
can help until I know, for it is time enough then. 

3 — Sabbath. I went to church Mr. Packard Preached, 

he is one of the Tutors of Harvard College. 

4 — Pleasant weather. I washed. 

5 — I am a picking blue Wool for Pa's Surtout. 

6 — I picked blue wool. 

7 — I broke blue Wool to-day. 

8 — I finished breaking blue Wool. 

9 — I fixed up my leghorn Hat & it looks very spry. 

10 — Sabbath. I went to church. Mr. Wright of Boston 

Preached here His Text Galatians 2d Chap. 20th 
Verse, I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I 
live: yet not I but Christ liveth in me. Pa is gone 
to Rutland to Preach for Mr. Buckminster. 

11 — Timmy 's birth Day he is thirteen Years Old. Eph- 

raim Fairbank came here to do Pa's haying. 

12 — Ma began to spin the blue Wool for Pa's Coat. 

13 — Ma spun a skein & a half. 

14 — Ma spun a skein & a half. 

15 — Ma spun. 

^16 — Ma spun, it is excessive Hot & has been all this Week. 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 317 

17 — Sabbath. Mr. Packard preached his Text Romans 

8th Chap. 29th & 30th verses. 

18 — Pleasant. I washed. 

19 — Ma spun. Anna Perry here a few moments. 

20 — Ma spun. 

21 — very pleasant Ma spun. 

22 — Ma spun. 

23 — Ma spun two skeins. Mrs. Garfield here. Revd. 

Mr. Rice drank Tea here. 

24 — Sabbath. I went to church A.M. Mr. Adams 

preached, his Text Galatians 3rd Chap. 21st & 
22nd verses. Is the law then against the promises 
of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law 
given which could have given Life, verily righteous- 
ness should have been by the law, but the Scrip- 
ture hath concluded all under Sin that the promise 
by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them 
that believe. 

25 — Pleasant to-day. 

26 — Ma spun to-day. 

27 — Mr. Adams here a visiting this afternoon, he is a 

very sociable agreeable Man & a very black Man. 

28 — Ma finished the warp of her blue Wool. 

29 — I spun some Linnen Yarn to make a Harness. 

30 — Anna Perry here a few Moments. 

31 — Sabbath. I went to church A.M. Mr. Adams Text 

ecclesiastes 7th Chap. i6th verse be not righteous 
over much, neither make thyself over wise, why 
shouldst thou distress thyself. 

1792 

Aug. I — I washed. 

2 — I spun four skeins of linnen Yarn. 

3 — I spun five skeins. 

4 — I spun three Skeins & scoured the best Chamber 

Floor. Lt. Mirricks Lady Capt. Gills Lady & 
Mrs. Brooks here a visiting. Pa went to Shrews- 
bury to see Mr. Morse with Mr. Adams. Sally 
is nineteen years old to-day. 

5 — I spun four skeins. Nathan Perry here. 

7 — Sabbath. I went to church A.M. Mr. Adams Text 

Proverbs 3rd Chap. 8th verse She shall bring 
thee to Honour when thou dost embrace her. Mr. 
Thomas Mason & Lady dined here. 

8 — I washed to-day. 

9 — I spun four skeins. 

10 — I spun four skeins of linnen. Uncle & Aunt Dwight 
& Sally came here, we rejoice exceedingly to see 
Sally come home. 



31 8 History of Princeton 

11 — Uncle & Aunt Dwight went from here about one 

o'clock. I love Uncle & Aunt exceedingly. Aunt 
gave me a lawn Handkerchief. Pa & Ma went as 
far as Rutland with them. 

12 — I did not do much, spent chief of my time with Sally 

very much against her inclination, for she sent me 
out of the Room fifty times in a minute but I did 
not care any more than our white chicken does 
when we drive it out of the House. 

13 — I made a Cheese. Mr. Adams here to-day. 

14 — Sabbath. I went to meeting A.M. 

15 — I washed. Mrs. Garfield here a visiting. 

16 — I picked blue Wool. 

17 — I broke blue Wool. 

18 — I finished breaking the Wool & carded some. 

19 — I carded blue Wool. Ma spun. 
20 — I carded. 

21 — Sabbath. I went to church all day Mr. Davis 
preached. 

22 — I washed. 

23 — Silas Perry here this morning. 

24 — Ma and Sally went to Mrs. Miricks and warped the 

Piece. 

25 — Mrs. Garfield here. 

26 — I drawed the Piece into the Harness & Sley & wove 

a yard. 

27 — I wove five yards of Cloth. Revd. Mr. Morse & 

Miss Tamar Beaman came here & drank Tea. 

28 — Sabbath. I went to church Mr. Davis Preached. 

1792 

Sept. I — I began to spin the white Wool. 

2 — I spun three Skeins of Warps. 

3 — I spun three Skeins. 

4 — Sabbath. I went to church Mr. Rice of Westminster 

Preached. 

5 — Rainy. Trooping & Training in this Town to-day. 

— Sally & I went to see them. 

6 — I spun three skeins. 

7 — Fidelia Mirick here a visiting to-day. 

8 — I spun three Skeins to-day. 

9 — I spun three Skeins. Pa &. Ma went to Mr. Rich- 

ardson's a visiting. 
10 — I spun three skeins. 
II — Sabbath dull weather. I stayed at home all day. 

Pa preached at Leominster. 

12 — Sis came home. — Lucretia Mirick here. 

13 — Timmy cut the stalks to-day. — Ma & Sally went 

to Lieut. Miricks. 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 319 

16 — Esqr. Gill's Lady & her sister Becky here a visiting. 

17 — Pa went to Daniel Cheever's. 

18 — Sabbath. Mr. Sanders Preached. Put in the white 

Piece. 

19 — Mr. Russell here. 

20 — Pa & Ma went to Mr. J. Rolph's on a visiting. 

22 — I wove. Put in the white wool. 

23 — I wove to-day. 

24 — I wove. 

25 — Sabbath. Wet weather. Mr. Goodridge preached. 

26 — I wove. 

27 — I wove to-day. 

28 — Mr. Rolph & his Lady here a visiting this afternoon. 

29 — I wove to-day. 

30 — I got out the woollen Piece. There is 19 yards & 

half of it. I drawed the linnen piece through the 
Harness. 



1792 

Oct. I — Sabbath Mr. Goodridge preached. 

2 — I wove to-day. 

3 — Cold. I wove. 

4 — I wove to-day. Pleasant. 

5 — I wove to-day. 

6 — Muster at Lancaster. John Allen here. 

7 — I wove. 

8 — I wove. 

9 — Sabbath. I went to church. 

10 — I wove to-day. 

11 — I wove A.M. Miss Polly Mirick & Miss Polly Bax- 

ter here P.M. 

12 — I wove got out the Piece before night 27 Yards of it. 
v^ 13 — My birth day. I am sixteen Years old How many 

years have been past by me in thoughtlesness & 
vanity. 

14 — Mr. & Mrs Warren here. Ma is making Pa a 

Surtout. 

15 — I made Pyes to-day. 

16 — Mr. Goodridge Preached. Miss Eliza Harris came 

here, she is to keep us company whilst Ma is gone. 

17 — Pa & Ma set out for Sandwich broke the Chaise 

before they got to Lieut. Miricks but got it mended 
again & pursued their journey. 

18 — I spun to-day. 

19 — Elisha Brooks & Lucretia & Parmelia Mirick here 

this eve. Ordination to-day at Gardner. 

20 — Cloudy. Nathan Perry here part of the afternoon 

& evening. 



320 History of Princeton 

21 — Elisha Brooks here. 

22 — Mr. Cutting here. 

23 — Sabbath. There came a considerable snow last 

night, so much that I shall not go to church but 
Sally is a going, (after Meeting) Sally has got 
home from Meeting, she went ankle deep in 
snow & mud all the way. I am glad I had not so 
much Zeal. 

24 — Anna Davis «& Ichabod Perry here this eve. Anna 

took offense at something & went away about 
eight o'clock, went to Mr. Hastings's till eleven. 
David stayed and sung with us an hour after she 
was gone. Nathan Perry here. 

25 — Elisha Brooks & John spent the evening here. 

26 — Nathan Perry here this morning. 

27 — Elisha Brooks & Nathan Cutting here this P.M. — 

David Perry here this eve to sing with us we had 
a fine concert. 

28 — Sally Gleason, Nancy Hastings, Lucretia Mirick &; 

John Brooks here this eve we Danced, Played, and 
sung all the evening, had an exceedingly agreeable 
evening. 

29 — Olive Parmenter here a few moments. 

30 — Sabbath. Rainy weather we all stayed at home but 

Timmy. 
31 — Timmy went to Mr. Hastings to help Wareham 
Husk Corn. 

1792 

Nov. I — Miss Fidelia Mirick here came to spend the evening 
& stay all night. 

2 — Fidelia went from here this afternoon. David Perry 

here this evening to sing with us. 

3 — Miss Elisa & Sally went to Mr. Brooks's this after- 

noon Sally stayed the evening. Nathan Perry 
here all the evening. 

4 — Clear & Cold expected Pa & Ma home but they did 

not come. 

5 — Pa & Ma came home they have brought me some 

very pretty stripped Lutestring for me a gown. 

6 — Sally & I went to church all day N. P. here this eve. 

7 — We baked. Pleasant. 

8 — Sally & I went to Esqr. Gills on a visit to Miss Re- 

becca had an agreeable visit. 

9 — Stormy weather. Mr. Hastings here. 

12 — Mrs. Garfield & Sally & I went to Mr. Joshua Eve- 

leths on a visit. 

13 — Sabbath. I went to church in the forenoon. 

14 — I washed. Mrs. Perry here a visiting this afternoon. 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 321 

17 — Thanksgiving to-day. 

18 — Sally went to Mr. Perrys on a visit to-day. I staid 

at home began to work me a Sampler. 

19 — Nathan Perry here this eve. — Ma went to Mrs. 

Eveleth's this P.M. 

20 — Sabbath. I went to church in the P.M. Mr. Hol- 

comb preached. 

21 — Mr. Gregory killed the hogs for us. 

22 — Rainy weather. Mr. S. Russell here this eve. 

23 — Miss Lucy Allen here to see me this afternoon. 

24 — Sally & I went to Lieut. Miles's of Westminster a 

Visiting, had a agreeable visit. Leonard Woods 
here. 

25 — Sally, Timmy & I went to Mr. Woods this evening 

had a fine visit Leonard is to keep school at Sterling. 

27 — Sabbath. I went to church. 

28 — Mr. Gregory here to kill a cow for Pa. 

29 — Miss Nabby Miles here is a going to stay all Night. 

30 — Miss Nabby Miles went from here this morning. — 

Sally & I went to Lieut. Miricks on a visit Quilted 
on Miss Eunice's bed-quilt there was a number of 
Girls & Women there. — We spent the evening at 
Widow Miricks. 



1792 

Dec. I — I spun some to-day. 

2 — Pleasant weather. Mr. Goodridge drank Tea with 

us this afternoon. Dr Wilson here a few mo- 
ments. 

3 — I spun to-day very pleasant indeed for the season. 

4 — Sabbath. Mr. & Mrs. Betsey Mason Dined here. 

I went to church in the P.M. sat in Mr. Masons 
Pew. 

5 — Mamma went to Mr. Miricks on a visit. 

6 — Mr. Fisher here to-day on business. 

7 — I minced link meat A.M. made the sausages in the 

afternoon. 

10 — I spun. Nathan Perry here this evening. 

11 — Sabbath. I went to church in the A.M. 

12 — I picked Wool to-day. 

13 — Stormy weather. I picked Wool. Nathan Cutting 

spent the eve here. 

14 — I broke Wool. Silas Perry here to-day. 

15 — Miss Lois Underwood & Miss Hannah Woods here 

a visiting. Sally & I went to the singing meeting 
this evening. 

16 — I broke Wool. Mr. Rice of Westminster here to 

stay all night. 



322 . History of Princeton 

17 — Mr, Rice of Westminster went from here this 

morning. 

18 — Sabbath. I stayed at home. 

19 — I spun. Nathan Perry here at work. — Rainy. 

20 — Nathan Perry here at work in the forenoon. Mrs. 

Perry & Mrs. Hastings here on a visit in the 
afternoon. 

21 — Mrs. Garfield & Miss Lucretia Mirick here a visit- 

ing. Silas Perry here most of the afternoon. I 
spun two skeins. 

22 — A severe storm. — Joab Eveleth here. 

23 — Nathan Perry here to-day. — Aaron Perry here this 

evening. 

24 — Cold weather to-day. 

25 — Sabbath. Stormy weather & cold. I went to 

meeting. 

26 — I spun three skeins. Ma washed. 

27 — Very pleasant weather. — Anna Perry here this 

evening. 

28 — Rebecca Hastings here to get Sally to make a Gown 

for her. 

29 — Parmelia Mirick came here to get Ma to cut out a 

lambskin Cloak for her. — - Sally & I went to Mrs. 
Miricks on a visit staid the afternoon and evening. 

30 — Ma went to Mrs. Eveleth's to carry home some Yarn. 

31 — Nabby Eveleth here. 

Family of Rev. Timothy Fuller. — Besides the five 
sons, there were five daughters, who survived Rev. Timo- 
thy Fuller. From the time of his death, on the third day 
of July, 1805, till the death of his son Timothy, on the first 
day of October, 1835, ^ period of full thirty years, that 
family circle of brothers and sisters remained unbroken. 
Now all have passed away. 

These ten children were much attached to each other, 
as well as to their parents, while living, and their memory 
when departed. Mr. Loring, in his address to the court on 
the death of Henry, gives a touching picture of the ten 
children of Rev. Timothy Fuller, who, some quarter of a 
century after he had gone to his rest, and long after the 
family dwelling in Princeton had passed away, visited its 
site together. Nothing remained but its cellar, which time 
had partially filled, whose rounded excavation it had 
carpeted with greensward. Here the children gathered 



Diary by Elizabeth Fuller 323 

and, seated in the charmed circle of what was once their 
home, sang again together the sweet hymns to which their 
tongues had been attuned in childhood, by their faithful 
parents, in the dearly loved home which had once rested 
upon that spot. They did not visit it again, in concert; 
and many of them sought it no more. Death, in a few 
years, broke that circle; and one after another they went, 
in quick succession, the way of all living. 

Extract from Sketch of Chaplain Arthur B. Fuller, by Richard F. Fuller. 



CHAPTER XIII 
WACHUSETT LEGENDS 

Mount Wachusett. The introduction here, of the va- 
rious statements concerning Wachusett and the surrounding 
territory during the early years of the settlement of New 
England, would be only to repeat that which has been so 
well told by the historians of the town. 

From the time when Gov. Winthrop and his party in 
1632 discovered the " very high hill due west about forty 
miles off " Wachusett became a well-known landmark, 
and for many years was considered as the headquarters of 
certain Indian tribes, and in the times of the terrible 
Indian war of 1675-6 it was the scene of noteworthy events. 
The thrilling story of the attack of the savages upon 
Lancaster town, the capture of Mrs. Rowlandson, and her 
weary journeyings for months, ending at Wachusett, 
where her release was accomplished, has been repeated 
again and again, until every schoolboy in the town, at 
least, has it at his tongue's end. 

Occasionally there is to be found in the early records of 
the Colony and in the histories of the Indian tribes and 
their wars, a reference to the "hill," the Sachems of the 
Wachusetts, the Waushacums, etc., but the field has been 
so thoroughly gleaned by others, that there is little or 
nothing new to offer here. Could its unwritten history 
be told, what a record would there be, of quiet Indian life, 
of the hunt and the dance, of Councils of war, of secret 
plottings and perhaps of cruel butcheries of innocent 
victims. 

The "fires of the Indian" have long since been extin- 
guished, and the hill, once a resort of the "aboriginal 
tribes," has become a resort of the lover of beautiful 
scenery, the seeker after health, and even the "fashionable 

324 




O 



O 

fa 

Eh 
H 
H 

o 



z 

o 

H 

W 

o 

s 

fa 
O 



Wachusett Legends 325 

boarder" who idles away the hours, without a thought of 
the "Redman" or a care for Hfe's duties. 

In 1762 a valuation of £50 was put upon the hill by the 
Province authorities, but an attempt to make sale of it 
proved unsuccessful (see Potash Farm, page 54). 

In 1765 Mr. Eliphalet How, representing himself "in 
low circumstances" asked the Court for a grant of the 
hill, and at the same time Mr. Robert Keyes petitioned 
for "Ye easterly half of said Wachusett hill." The House 
acting upon the two petitions together, ordered that the 
hill be "granted unto the petitioners in equal halves. The 
easterly half thereof to the said Keyes, and the westerly 
half to the said Eliphalet How" &c. unfortunately however 
for both, the Council refused to concur in this action and 
the petition was dismissed. 

In 1767 Rev. Timothy Fuller, the first settled minister 
of the town, petitioned the General Court for a grant of 
the hill for reasons specified. This original petition is in 
Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 14. 

The Court granted the request and conveyed the whole 
tract of land to Mr. Fuller, Jan. 20, 1768. Subsequently 
Mr. Fuller bought the Allen farm of 230 acres, lying south- 
west of the hill, the two making an extensive tract, though 
the larger portion of it was apparently not very desirable. 

If the Reverend gentleman did not reap a sufficient 
advantage from the delightful prospect from the hill, he 
doubtless secured some income from the land, and in the 
sale of it by sections profited considerably. The profits re- 
sulting from the "prospect" were reserved for the projectors 
of modern hotels and mountain roads. The Wachusett 
Mountain Company, incorporated in 1874 for the purpose 
of purchasing, improving, and disposing of land upon or 
near Wachusett Mountain, was authorized to build one 
or more hotels and carry on the same, construct and oper- 
ate on its own land one or more roads for the transporta- 
tion of passengers and property to the summit, and to 
charge tolls for transportation, road to be operated upon 
rails either by tram or horse power. 



326 History of Princeton 

On June 14, 1795 Ezra Gary of Sterling acquired the 
mountain property of Mr. Fuller, and fifteen days later 
conveyed the same tract to Moses Gill for S810. It was 
transferred to Ward N. Boylston in 1805 who conveyed it 
later to John Brooks. The Wachusett Mountain Gompany 
owned the property from 1876 until the failure of that cor- 
poration in 1877. It then, after being leased for a time, 
passed into the hands of Phineas A. Beaman and after his 
decease was purchased of the Beaman heirs by the Gom- 
monwealth for the sum of $20,060 and is now a State 
Reservation. This purchase of 533 acres with the addition 
of a smaller tract purchased of Samuel F. Mason and 
Thomas H. Russell increased the area of the reservation to 
563.51 acres. Many improvements have been made and 
the reservation has gained steadily in popularity as a 
summer resort. 

LUCY KEYES 

The Lost Ghild of Wachusett Mountain 

Prefatory. In most of our New England towns the 
historian finds some traditions or legends which have 
been handed down from one generation to another until 
they form a part of the history of the town. They may 
relate to Indian invasions or other events of war, to exhi- 
bitions of bravery, to instances of suffering, or hardship, 
or even to personal peculiarities of some of its citizens. 
Some of them may be based upon truth and yet contain 
much error, and others may have no foundation whatever. 

The town of Princeton has its share of such traditions, 
among which the most familiar is the story of Lucy Keyes 
the " lost child." How often has this story been told, and 
how many speculations have been made as to her fate! 
Many of the old people of to-day vividly remember sitting 
by the fireside and listening to the story which was ever 
fresh and thrilling. It has not only moved children to 
tears, but has awakened in older persons a tender interest 
in the mysterious fate of the child. Visitors to the town 



Wachiisett Legends 327 

are shown the spot where the child lived, and again the 
story is rehearsed with more or less correctness in detail. 
Yet, notwithstanding it has been so often repeated, the 
writer, in view of certain facts he has disco\ered, has 
deemed it well to relate it again, in order that the truth 
may be made known, and as far as possible at this late 
day the character of one unjustly charged with crime may 
be vindicated. 

Robert Keyes was born in Chelmsford, Mass., Sep- 
tember 21, 171 1, and when a young man removed to 
Shrewsbury, where December 24, 1740, he married Martha 
Bowker. They lived in Shrewsbury some ten or twelve 
years. On the 13th of June, 1749, he bought of his towns- 
man Benjamin Muzzey, for £400 " old tenor," a tract of 
two hundred acres on the easterly side of Wachusett 
Mountain, which had been granted Mr. Muzzey by the 
General Court, on account of the losses and suffering sus- 
tained by him while held in captivity by the Indians, he 
having been a soldier of the Province at the time of his 
capture. In October, 1750, Mr. Keyes sold his house in 
Shrewsbury, and the following May removed with his 
family to his new home on the mountain side. At this 
time there were but three or four families li\ing in the 
whole territory now embraced within the bounds of Prince- 
ton, and they living widely apart, although it is probable 
that a few stray individuals without families were living 
in isolated places in the district. 

Thus Mr. Keyes and his family were practically alone 
in their mountain home, his farm being surrounded by 
unappropriated and unoccupied lands. His nearest neigh- 
bor on the south was probably Abijah Moore, who had a 
tavern on what is now called the Sterling Road, near 
" Russell's Corner." On the north it is possible the Wil- 
lards or the Goddards had begun to build their sawmill, 
while on the southeast, four miles away on the " old 
Houghton place," was the " Wilder tavern " for the ac- 
commodation of travelers to Nichewaug, the same road 
upon which, one mile farther north, Mr. Moore, above 



328 History of Prmceton 

referred to, kept his place of " entertainment for man and 
beast." 

In Rutland " East Wing " there may have been one or 
two famihes, but they were miles away from Mr. Keyes. 
In Westminster, four miles distant, there were probably 
two hundred and twenty-five inhabitants in 1751, but 
there was no settlement which could be called a village, 
and the same can be said of Barre fifteen miles southwest, 
and of Hubbardston on the west. Southeasterly, sev- 
enteen miles away, lay the old town of Shrewsbury, Mr. 
Keyes' former home, while Rutland town was ten miles 
to the west, and Lancaster, probably the nearest settle- 
ment of any size, was twelve miles distant on the east. 
Rutland " East Wing," with the " farms adjoining on the 
north," which included Mr. Keyes', were incorporated as 
the District of Princetown October 24, 1759, and as the 
Town of Princeton April 24, 1771. 

Although no record furnishes evidence of any road near 
Mr. Keyes' farm, yet there was no doubt one following the 
old Indian path, and perhaps identical with the present 
Westminster road, connecting the road on which Mr. 
Moore's tavern was located with the older traveled road 
towards the west which passed by Wachusett Pond to 
some of the interior towns. 

Mr. Keyes was by trade a blacksmith, but one cannot 
readily conceive at the time of his settlement, or for many 
years afterwards, any demand for his services in that lo- 
cality, except for his own personal needs. Miles from any 
village and away from the traveled roads, and even those 
roads used so little, we can understand that he was forced 
to lay aside his accustomed trade and give attention to 
clearing the land and tilling the soil. The wildness of the 
country, abounding in large areas of woodland, afforded 
him, also, facilities for exercising his skill as a huntsman, 
for which he was famous. 

Loss of the Child. Mr. Keyes had ten children, of 
whom five were born in Shrewsbury, or at least before the 
parents settled at Wachusett. The principal event which 



Wachiisett Legends 329 

has brought this family into notice occurred on Monday, 
the 14th of April, 1755. On that day his daughter Lucy, 
four years and eight months old, wandered away from 
home, and was never seen again by the family. It was 
at first surmised that the child lost her way in the woods 
while attempting to follow her elder sisters Patty and 
Anna, aged nine and seven years respectively, who had 
gone to Wachusett Pond, a mile away, perhaps as some 
have stated to get some sand for household purposes. As 
stated before, there were near Mr. Keyes, only a few paths 
following the Indian trails, or such paths as he himself 
had marked through the woods, and a child of the age of 
Lucy could easily have wandered away and been lost. 

Disregarding tradition and the additions to the original 
story that would naturally be made, as it was reported 
from one to another year after year, we may well accept 
as correct the statement published in Whitney's History 
of Worcester County in 1793, at which time the father 
and the sisters named above were still living; and it may 
be reasonably believed that this statement was obtained 
directly from the family : — 

"It was in the month of May in the year 1751, when 
Mr, Robert Keyes, now living, removed with his family 
from Shrewsbury, and fixed down near the foot of Wat- 
chusett hill, on the east side, being the fourth family which 
settled in the place. Upon the 14th of April, 1755, a child 
of his, named Lucy, aged four years and eight months, 
attempting, as was supposed, to follow her sisters, who had 
gone to Watchusett Pond, about a mile distant, and having 
nothing but marked trees to guide her, wandered out of 
her way in the woods, and was never heard of afterwards. 
The people for nearly thirty miles around collected imme- 
diately, and in companies traversed the woods, day after 
day and week after week, searching for her, but never made 
the least discovery. Many journeys were taken by the 
father, in consequence of reports, but all in vain. Various 
were and have been the conjectures of people respecting 
the fate of the child. Divers concurring circumstances 
render the following most probable, that she was taken by 
the Indians, and carried into their country, and soon forgot 



330 History of Princeton 

her relations, lost her native language, and became as one 
of the aborigines." 

The grief of the mother was exceedingly great. She 
mourned for the loss of this her dearest child and watched 
daily for her return, often going out into the woods and 
calling her by name with the wild hope of hearing a re- 
sponse. As the days passed and the child did not appear, 
the sense of loneliness and loss became almost unbearable 
and her reason nearly forsook her. Even at the time of 
her death more than thirty years after, she had not re- 
covered from the effects of the bereavement.* The loss 
of the child created a great excitement as the news spread 
about and reached the neighboring settlements, and plans 
were quickly made to commence a search. The old neigh- 
bors of Mr. Keyes in Shrewsbury, seventeen miles dis- 
tant, came up to help; Lancaster, twelve miles east, sent 
its contingent, while Rutland and other towns contributed 
their share of volunteers. Notwithstanding the lack of 
regular means of conveying the intelligence, the news spread 
quickly, and a very large number of men were assembled 
together, the pond was dragged, and for many days a sys- 
tematic search was carried on, even long after all effort 
seemed likely to be fruitless. Naturally the failure of the 
long search strengthened the suspicions to which Mr. 
Whitney alludes in his account, that the child was stolen 
by the Indians. 

The father, clinging to this theory, used every exertion 
to get some trace of the child, following eagerly every pos- 

* "The mother was brought to the verge of insanity by the loss of her little 
girl, and for a long time after her disappearance she always went out at night- 
fall and called, Lu-cy ! but the echo from the aged forests was the only answer." 
Notes of Prof. Everett. 

"The conjectures as to its fate were various, the most prevalent being that 
it was carried off by a straggling party of Indians on a visit to the mountain. 
This was made more probable by the story of two men, who went some years 
after this occurrence from Groton, on a trading expedition amorig the Indiana 
on Canada line. They related, on their return, that they found living among 
the Indians a white woman, who knew nothing farther of her birth or parentage, 
than that she once lived near ' Chusett Hill.' " — Russell's History of Princeton. 



Wachusett Legends 33 1 

sible clue, but often misled by false reports. The means of 
communication were imperfect, and the expenses of trav- 
eling were large, especially for one in his condition of life, 
but nevertheless he appears to have spared no efforts 
within his power to find the child. 

Petition for Relief. Ten years after the event, feeling 
almost impoverished by the large expenditures he had been 
obliged to make in the search for the child, he petitioned 
the General Court of the Province, hoping to receive some 
measure of relief. In this petition he briefly tells the story 
of his efforts in behalf of his child. 

"Province of the ) 
Massachusetts Bay \ 

To his Excellency Francis Barnard Esq''. Captain Gen- 
eral and Governor in Chief in & over said Province the 
Honourable his Majestys Council & house of Representa- 
tives in General Court assembled May 29th, 1765, 

Humbly shews Robert Keyes of Princeton in y^ County 
of Worcester that in y^ year Seventeen hundred & fifty 
five he lost one of his Children & was Supposed to be taken 
by the Indians & Carried to Canada when it was first lost 
it was apprehended to be in the woods wandring about & 
your Petitioner was at great Cost & trouble In Searching 
the woods for it but to no good purpose; after this he hears 
It was at Canada and that he could get further Informa- 
tion thereof at Porchmouth In New-Hampshire on hearing 
that He went there and also sent to Canada, afwards 
{sic) He advertised said Child In the New York papers; * 
he had an account of Such a Child's being among the 
Mohawks and determined to go after his Child the last 
fall but has heitherto been prevented by reason of Sickness 
& deaths in his family. And the Cost he hath been at In 
Searching for s"^ Child is so Great being about one hundred 
pounds lawful money, that he is not able to bear it being 
in a new plantation, and as their is within Sixty rods of his 
door some Province land laying on y'' Watchusett Hill 
which would be some advantage to him provided he could 
have it. Therefore your Petif^ humbly prays the Hono^^* 
Court to take his Case In your Compationate Concidera- 

* The writer has examined the New York papers from 1755 to 1764, but 
failed to find this advertisement. 



332 History of Princeton 

tion & make him a grant of y^ Easterly half of said Wat- 
chusett hill & your Pef as in duty bound will ever pray. 

Rocert Keyes. 

Rejection. For reasons which do not appear this peti- 
tion was rejected, and Mr. Keyes was thrown back upon 
his old resources for the support of his family. He had 
sold in 1759 a part of his farm, the proceeds of which were 
doubtless used in meeting the expenses of the search for 
the missing girl. But his farm could yield him only a 
little ready money for this purpose. In 1767 he sold to 
his son-in-law Samuel Mossman, 4^ acres of the farm; in 
1770, 42 acres to William Dodd, and in 1773, 40 acres to 
his son Jonas, leaving but about 50 acres for himself. 

Mrs. Keyes died August 9, 1789, and her husband March 
I, 1795. Both were probably buried in the old graveyard 
on Meeting House Hill, but the gravestone of the wife alone 
remains. 

This simple story of the loss of the child and the search 
made for her was told by one to another, and rehearsed 
by parents to their children, and would have gone down 
through the generations unchanged but for an incident 
which occurred at the Centennial celebration of Princeton 
in 1859. The poet of the day. Prof. Erastus Everett of 
Brooklyn, N. Y., having made reference in his poem to the 
loss of the child, was subsequently shown a letter written 
in 1827 by a native of Princeton, which placed the matter 
in an entirely different light. Interested in the new de- 
velopments, he, by correspondence, succeeded in finding 
the writer of the letter, who confirmed the statements pre- 
viously made, and the substance of her narrative with some 
comments by Mr. Everett were printed with the proceed- 
ings of the Centennial. 

The letter of 1827 I have never been able to find, although 
I have made diligent inquiry for it, and in fact I have not 
learned of any one who remembers it, except Mr. Everett, 
who only recalls the fact that at the time he saw it, it was 
in a dilapidated condition, but he does not remember who 



Wachusett Legends 333 

handed It to him, or what became of it. Through the 
courtesy of Mr. Everett, however, I have a copy of the 
second letter, which is given in full : — 

Rockford, Bourbon Co., Kansas Territory, 

December 8, 1859. 
"Erastus Everett, Esq., 

Dear Sir: — A letter of inquiry, dated at Brooklyn, 
with your signature, after being remailod at different 
points, reached me quite recently, and I hasten to reply. 
To give publicity to the confession of a crime, with mere 
supposition for its basis, demands an abler pen than mine, 
while to stigmatize the dead or give unnecessary pain to 
the living betrays a character more abandoned than I wish 
to possess. You say the account given In a letter of 1827 
to my sister, Mrs. Hager which I supposed had been given 
to the winds or the flames long ago, was to you "A mys- 
tery, that is incomprehensible." Perhaps the organ of 
marvellousness is more fully developed in my head than 
in yours. Be that as it may, I believe the circumstances, 
as narrated to me in 1827, to be authentic; nor have I 
heard anything since by which I have doubted their au- 
thenticity. I gave more credence to the report from the 
fact that all the years of my girlhood were spent within 
half a mile of Mrs. John Gleason of Princeton, whose name 
previous to her marriage was Patty Keyes, sister to the 
child "Lucy," and one of the "Two sisters who went to 
the pond for sand"; and I have many times listened as 
she related the sad story of the child's disappearance, to- 
gether with other incidents that In my opinion corroborated 
the truth of Mrs. Anderson's statement. Mrs. Anderson, 
of Deerfield, N. Y., witnessed the confession, told it to Mrs. 
Whitmore and she gave it to me. Mrs. Whitmore has 
been dead more than thirty years. Mrs. Anderson I never 
saw, and whether she is still living I do not know. 

The name of the man, to whom allusion is made, was 
Littlejohn. His first name, his age, and the precise time 
at which he died, I disremember. If I ever heard. I can- 
not recollect how, or what I wrote in 1827, but probably 
some things were mentioned at that time fresh in my mind 
that the lapse of thirty-two years have effaced from my 
memory. However, the main points I recollect distinctly 
and will give them. I was told that Mr. Littlejohn was 
thought to be dying for three days — at length he arose in 



334 History of Princeton 

bed and speaking audibly, said he could not die until he 
had confessed a murder that he committed many years 
before — said he was formerly a neighbor to Robert Keyes 
of Princeton, Mass., there was misunderstanding between 
the families. Mr. and Mrs. Keyes felt unpleasantly to live 
thus and went to Mr. L's to effect, if possible, a recon- 
ciliation, which having been apparently accomplished and 
mutual pledges of renewed friendship exchanged they Mr. 
K. and wife returned home. But the enmity of Mr. L. 
had not subsided. He sought revenge, and afterward 
seeing their little daughter alone in the woods, to avenge 
himself on the parents, killed her by beating her head 
against a log, and then placed her body in a hollow log, 
and went to his house. When the neighbors were solicited 
to assist in searching for the lost, he was among the first, 
and being familiar with the forest, he volunteered to lead 
the party, carefully avoiding the hollow log till night. 
After dark he went to the hollow log, took the body and 
deposited it in a hole, which had been made by the over- 
turning of a tree. 

The log had been cut from the stump, leaving only it 
and the roots, which he turned back in its former position 
and thought all safe. He said, the next day as a party 
were passing the hollow log, they found a lock of hair, which 
the family identified as that of Lucy's and he knew it to be 
hers, for as he was taking the body in the dark her hair 
caught and in his hurry he left this lock. After the search 
was given up as fruitless, he felt ill at ease there and some- 
time after left the town. He gave the locality of the stump, 
the particular kind of wood of which the tree was once 
composed, and requested some one present to write his 
confession to Princeton, adding that he believed that the 
stump might then be in existence and, by digging, the bones 
of the child might be found. 

This appeared more incredulous to me at that time than 
anything else, and I may have omitted to write It then, 
but as you have particularly requested so, I have given 
you all the particulars in my possession at this late day." 

Of the man charged with the crime we know something 
and although not so much as we may wish, yet It Is more 
than It might at first be supposed could be learned about 
one living a quiet life in a thinly settled community so 
many years ago. 



Wachusett Legends 335 

Variation in Name. Mrs. Brown refers in her letter to 
Mr. Littlejohn, Mr. Harlow in his sketch to John Littlejohn 
(which I believe he acknowledges to be an error) and Mr. 
Marble to Tilly Littlejohn. As the latter was, so far as 
can be learned by private or public records or by tradition, 
the only man bearing the name of Littlejohn who lived in 
Princeton, and he was once a neighbor of Mr. Keyes, and is 
regarded by Princeton people as the man concerned in this 
tragedy, we assume that he is the one alone whose char- 
acter has been brought out so prominently in connection 
with Lucy Keyes. 

Tilly Littlejohn was the son of Thomas * and Mary Lit- 
tlejohn, and was born in Lancaster in 1735. After the 
death of the father, who was killed at Louisburg when Tilly 
was about ten years old, the mother and the children appear 
to have continued their residence in Lancaster or Bolton 
for some years. On the 23d of April, 1755, at which 
time he appears to have been in the service (probably an 
apprentice, of Jonathan Wilder, Tilly enlisted in the com- 

* Thomas Littlejohn the father of Tilly is said to have come to this country 
from Scotland and soon after went to Lancaster, where he is found as early as 
1725, when he enlisted in the service of the Province in Capt. Blanchard'a 
company. On the 17th of January 1726-27 he married Mary Butler, and they 
had five children, four of them recorded at Lancaster. 

Mary, May 10, 1728, died Dec. 14, 1748. 

Thomas, July 27, 1730. 

Sarah, , died 1817, in Bolton. 

Simeon. 

Tilly, May 26, 1735. 

During the French War Mr. Littlejohn again enlisted in his Majesty's ser- 
vice, and was among those who in 1745 were killed at Louisburg. His widow 
Mary died in Bolton in 1768, leaving quite a little property. By her will she 
gave to her sons Thomas, Simeon and Tilly five shillings each ("which is all I 
give them") and the balance of her estate to her daughter Sarah. Tilly was 
appointed executor, but he declined to serve. 

Thomas, Jr. went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, thence to the neighborhood of 
Portland, Me., where he died leaving a large number of descendants. 

Simeon, according to the statements received from his brother Thomas, set- 
tled in one of the southern states, but I have not been able to learn if he had a 
family. 

The descendants of Tilly are scattered throughout the United States, some 
of them occupying positions of honor and trust. 



336 History of Princeton 

pany of Capt. Asa Whitcomb, and marched one hundred 
and sixty-five miles to Albany on the expedition to Crown 
Point. This company was in the " bloody morning fight," 
but Tilly escaped without injury, and after a service of six 
months was discharged on the 25th of October. 

The roll of Capt. Whitcomb shows that Mr. Littlejohn 
received for his services of twenty weeks and four days 
£8. 17/2, allowance for mileage being made of is. 6d. per 
day of fifteen miles travel. Under the head of " names of 
Fathers and Masters of Sons under Age and Servants " 
appears the name of Jonathan Wilder against that of 
Littlejohn, indicating that the latter was an apprentice at 
that time. 

On the 1st of December, 1757, he married Hannah 
Brooks, in Lancaster. 

At what time he removed to Princeton I cannot defi- 
nitely state, but he purchased from Mr. Keyes for £27, 
a portion of his farm on the easterly side of the mountain, 
by deed dated January 22, 1759, at which time he may 
have been living in that vicinity, although he is simply 
described as of the " same county and province " as the 
grantor.* It may be reasonably inferred that he was there 
in the fall of 1758, as the birth of his son Levi on the 2d of 
October of that year is not recorded in Lancaster, but does 
appear upon the Princeton records, although the entry 
was not made at the time, as the District records were not 
commenced until October, 1759. It is not unusual, how- 
ever, to find at Princeton the records of births which oc- 
curred in other towns. 

The tract which Mr. Littlejohn purchased was 67! acres 
(almost one-third of the whole) on the westerly side, and 
Mr. Keyes reserved a right to " pass and re-pass " by " an 
open road to Watchusett Hill at the usual place of going 
up said Hill," while Mr. Littlejohn had also a right to pass 

* The witnesses to this deed were Jonathan Wilder of Lancaster (Tilly 
Littlejohn's former master), and Zachariah Harvey, who was living on the 
"Ebenezer Parker" place in the east part of the town. The deed was not 
acknowledged until December 2, 1760, and not recorded until Sept. 16, 1764. 



Wachiisett Legends 337 

through Mr. Keyes' land to " ye eastward." The accom- 
panying sketch shows the approximate location of the 
whole tract with the present roads indicated thereon. The 
location of Mr. Littlejohn's house is supposed to have been 
on the easterly side of his farm, near the road now known 
as the Roper road, and quite near Mr. Keyes' house. 

Of Mr. Littlejohn's six children, two lived to maturity, 
both of them married and removed to New York State 
during the time of the great emigration thither from Mas- 
sachusetts. 

In 1764 he, with others, joined in the formation of the 
church in Princeton, being dismissed from Lancaster Sec- 
ond Church, now Sterling. He remained in town more 
than twenty years, during which time he added to his pos- 
sessions by the purchase of a small lot of land at the corner 
of the Lower Westminster road and the Sterling road, west 
of the " old Russell place," on which spot he may have had 
a dwelling-house, although there is no record evidence of it. 

About the year 1777 he removed to that part of Lan- 
caster adjoining Princeton, which was afterwards incor- 
porated as Sterling, where he bought a farm. He was dis- 
missed from the Princeton to the Sterling church in 1786, 
and died in the latter town November i, 1793, of " asthma 
and consumption," according to the church records. His 
gravestone, now to be seen in the old burying-ground, 
bears the following inscription : — 

Memento Mori 

Erected 

In Memory of Mr. 

TILLEY LITTLEJOHN 

who departed this life 

Nov. I, 1793, 

aged 58 years and 

5 months. 

O ye whose cheek the tear of pity stains, 
Draw near with pious reverence and attend; 
Here lie the loving husband's dear remains, 
The tender father and the generous friend. 



338 History of Princeton 

His will dated Nov. 19, 1790, was signed by him, and the 
signature is identical with that of his appended to the 
church covenant in 1764. 

His estate, including his land in Sterling, was valued at 
■£555- The following chronology will show how I have 
followed him from the cradle to the grave, and enable the 
reader more clearly to understand the statements pre- 
viously and subsequently made. 

CHRONOLOGY 

TiLLEY LiTTLEJOHN 

1735 — May 26. Born at Lancaster, Son of Thomas & Mary (Butler) 

Littlejohn. 
1755 — Apr. 23. Enlisted at Lancaster in Capt. Asa Whitcomb's Co. 

marched to Albany on the Crown Point expedition. 
1755 — Oct. 25. Discharged from service at Lancaster. 
1757 — Oct. 20. Intention of marriage declared at Lancaster. 

1757 — Dec. I. Married at Lancaster to Hannah Brooks. 

1758 — Oct. 2. Son Levi born. Not recorded in Lancaster, but on 

Princeton records at a later date (died) 1759. 

1759 — Jan. 22, Then of "a farm on the easterly side of Wachusett 

Hill in no town, parish or district, in the county 
of Worcester," bought of Robert Keyes. 

1760 — Jan. 30. Daughter Hannah born in Princeton (died 1764). 
1760 — Nov. 2. Admitted to Lancaster Second Church (Sterhng). 
1760 — Nov. 2. Daughter Hannah baptized in Lancaster Second Church. 
1763 — Jan. 16. Son Levi born in Princeton (died 1764). 

1763 — Oct. 6. Of Princeton, bought a small lot adjoining his first 

purchase. 

1764 — Aug. 12. Signed covenant at formation of Church in Princeton. 

1764 — Aug. 28. Dismissed from Second Lancaster Church to Princeton 

Church. 

1765 — Feb. 14. Daughter Mary born in Princeton (died 1776). 
1767 — Mch. 12. Daughter Pamela born in Princeton. 

1769 — Son John born in Princeton. 

1774 — Feb. 22. Of Princeton, mortgaged his real estate (including 
a lot near centre of town, of the purchase of which 
there is no record). Mortgage discharged Apr. 13, 

1787. 
1776 — Mch. 23. Daughter Mary died, — buried in Sterling, which in- 
dicates family residing there at that date. 



Wachusett Legends 339 

1777 — Sept. 29. Of Lancaster, bought land there. (Sterling was in- 

corporated 1 78 1.) 

1778 — Nov. 23. Of Lancaster, with wife, and John, Jabez & Thomas 

Brooks sold land in Lexington. 

1779 — Mch. — Name not on tax list in Princeton. 
1779 — Mch. 7. Of Lancaster, bought land there. 

1781 — Oct. 18. Of Sterhng, sold his land in Princeton near the moun- 
tain. 

1784 — Feb. 16. Of Sterling, bought land there. 

1784 — Mch. 15. Of Sterling, bought land there. 

1784 — Dec. 17. Of Sterling, bought land there. 

1786 — Jan. 30. Of Sterling, sold the land in Princeton near centre 
which he mortgaged in 1774 (where he may have 
lived before his removal to Sterling). 

1786 — Oct, I. Admitted to the Church in Sterhng. 

1789 — Apr. 16. Of Sterling, bought land there. 

1790 — July 5. Of Sterling, signed his will. 

1793 — Nov. I. Died in Sterling, "of asthma and consumption" 
(church record and grave stone). 

1793 — Nov. 19. Will proved, wife Hannah, son John and daughter 

Pamela Priest named. Inventory £ 555. 

1794 — Jan. 13. Widow Hannah Littlejohn, with son John and daughter 

Pamela, joined in transfer of real estate in Sterling 
formerly belonging to Tilly Littlejohn. 



It is charged that Mr. Littlejohn, as the result of a quarrel 
with his neighbor Mr. Keyes, killed the child Lucy on the 
14th of April, 1755, and concealed the body, and, when an 
old man dying in New York State, confessed the crime 
and desired that the fact should be made known in Prince- 
ton. 

Analysis. Let us see if the facts will substantiate such 

a charge or admit of a reasonable belief in its truth. 

First. Tilly Littlejohn was born in Lancaster, and if w^e 

have no proof that he was on the 14th of April, 1755 a 

resident of Lancaster, we have proof that he was such 

only nine days later, when he was recorded as servant or 

apprentice to Jonathan Wilder. 

Second. Tilly Littlejohn was not a neighbor, and could 

not well have quarreled with Mr. Keyes about bounds 

of land, as he did not own any land near Mr. Keyes or 



340 History of Princeton 

anywhere else, and could not legally have owned any, 
as he was not of age. 

Third. If he had been there, and if he had quarreled with 
Mr. Keyes, his disappearance nine days later to enlist 
in the army would have excited suspicion and led to a 
belief in his guilt, and probably to his arrest. 

Fourth. Four years after the loss of the child Mr. Little- 
john did buy a part of Mr. Keyes' farm, where he lived 
for a number of years and brought up a family. It is 
possible, but certainly not probable, that the man who 
murdered Lucy Keyes on that spot would return and 
make there a home for his wife and his children. 

Fifth. Mr. Littlejohn did not have a family in 1755, as 
Mrs. Brown states, and did not leave Princeton " soon 
after " the loss of the child, but remained in the town 
some twenty years after his purchase of property there 
in 1759. 

Sixth. Mr. Littlejohn was not an old man at the time of 
his death, as he was but fifty-eight years of age. 

Seventh. He never lived in Deerfield, New York, or vi- 
cinity, if the statement of his grand-children can be 
relied upon. 

Eighth. He certainly did not die in Deerfield, N. Y., but 
yielded up the ghost in the quiet town of Sterling, Mass., 
in 1793, where to-day we may see his gravestone with 
an inscription recounting his virtues " as a loving hus- 
band, tender father and generous friend," — a case, I 
have no doubt, where the epitaph tells the truth. 

Ninth. Grand-children living to-day who were brought 
up with Mrs. Littlejohn, (who survived her husband 
many years,) affirm that they never heard a word of any 
wrong-doing on the part of their grandfather. 

Tenth. Admitting error in some of the details, if, as some 
have suggested, such a confession had been made by 
Mr. Littlejohn at Sterling, where he died, it certainly 



Wachiisett Legends 341 

would have become quickly known throughout the town 
and the county. 

These statements, based so largely upon record evidence, 
are so contradictory to the alleged confession, that the reader 
must certainly feel that the case against Mr. Littlejohn is at 
least " not proven.'' 

Failing to find any evidence to implicate Mr. Littlejohn 
as a quarrelsome neighbor, I have carefully examined the 
records to learn who were the owners of land adjoining Mr. 
Keyes in 1755, who might possibly have disputed with 
him the boundary lines between their estates. My re- 
search has resulted in finding that the land on the north, 
east and south of Mr. Keyes' farm was owned by Benjamin 
Houghton, Esq., of Lancaster, while the mountain on the 
west was in the possession of the Province. It is not quite 
clear whether the northerly corner of lot No. 12 of the 
" Watertown farms," then owned by Mr. Josiah Coolidge 
of Weston, bordered on Mr. Keyes' south-westerly corner, 
but, if at all, it was only for a few rods between Pine Hill 
and the mountain, and was of no value to any one; neither 
was there any resident on that lot No. 12 until many years 
afterwards. There appear, therefore, to have been no 
families near Mr. Keyes in 1755, and no boundaries to quarrel 
about, unless we suppose them to be those of Mr. Houghton, 
a man of substantial worth, well known throughout the 
county, — a supposition not worthy of consideration. 

I have been asked how I reconcile the statements of Mrs. 
Brown with the facts here referred to, but I have been 
unable to reach any satisfactory conclusion. The char- 
acter of the informant and the circumstantial details of 
the confession make the mystery so much the greater, and 
the problem the more difficult to solve. Whether she 
heard aright the story from Mrs. Whitmore, or the latter 
correctly received the statement from Mrs. Anderson, or 
whether Mrs. Anderson was at fault, the reader can judge 
as well as L 

It is possible that some man, whose mind was wandering 



342 History of Princeton 

in the last hours of his Hfe, may have confessed a crime, 
and the unknown Mrs. Anderson to whom the story was 
told may have supplied a name, either by accident or de- 
sign; or it is possible that Mrs. Whitmore or Mrs. Brown 
mistook the name of the confessor, or, forgetting the name, 
assumed that it was Littlejohn, because she remembered 
that a man bearing that name once lived near the mountain. 

We can make many conjectures, but, whatever point we 
take up to examine critically, we find ourselves in conflict 
with evidence which seems to demolish any theory con- 
necting Mr. Littlejohn with the murder. 

In publishing these notes I have endeavored to give all 
the facts that I have been able to gather, and only regret 
that the mists cannot be entirely cleared away, and the 
origin or occasion of the mysterious confession be fully 
made known. 

I am indebted to relatives of Mrs. Brown, and also to 
members of the Littlejohn family, for some suggestions, — 
the former anxious to assert the trustworthiness of their 
relative, and the latter equally anxious to remove the stain 
resting upon the memory of Mr. Littlejohn. 

Mrs. Anderson came to Eaton, N.Y., where Mrs. Whit- 
more resided, met her at the house of a friend, and learning 
that Mrs. W. was a native of Princeton, gave her the rela- 
tion above and Mrs.W. requested me to write. Now, Sir, 
as you seem interested in the matter, and as doubt implied 
respecting the truthfulness of the confession, allow me to 
suggest the propriety of ascertaining through some persons 
at Dcerfield, where I think Mr. Littlejohn died, the time 
of his demise and the facts of his confession. 

You say "The substance of my letter will be embodied 
in a record that the people of Princeton will read." I 
wish you had been more explicit. I am a Yankee, Sir, 
and you know the Yankees are proverbial for natural cu- 
riosity. Am I to understand that a work is to be pub- 
lished, or is it merely to be placed upon the records of the 
town? If the former is the case, I hope I may be apprised 
of it, for whatever may interest Princeton folks will in- 
terest your humble friend in southern Kansas. Even the 
name of Princeton falls pleasantly on my ear. 



Wachusett Legends 343 

"I love her rocks and hills, 
Her meadows, plains and fields 

And healthful air: 
And though far off I dwell, 
My heart shall ever swell, 

Her name to hear." 

The length and errors of this letter call for an apology, 
but I dislike apologies and will forbear. 

Most Respectfully Yours, 
Cornelia B. K. Brown, 

This letter, which gives us such minute details of the 
confession, appears to afiford convincing proof of the fate 
of the child, silencing all other conjectures, and without 
conflicting evidence would apparently settle the question 
in the minds of the majority of readers. Could the first 
letter be found it might be seen that there were some va- 
riations between the statements of 1827 and 1859, and 
some points might be more clearly defined, or new impres- 
sions gained in view of what is now known, but in its absence 
we have nothing to rely upon but that of the later date. 

These statements, so far as known to me, were not con- 
tradicted, and they became more firmly fixed in the minds 
of those familiar with the original story, and interested 
many to whom the whole was new, by means of an article 
contributed by William T. Harlow, Esq., to the " Old and 
New Magazine " in 1874, Mr. Harlow made a very in- 
teresting and romantic story of the loss of the child and 
the subsequent confession of the murderer, in which he 
included statements which he had heard from the lips of 
his mother, who remembered some who joined in the search 
for the child. To adapt the story to interest magazine 
readers he apparently drew upon his imagination, as some 
of the statements unfortunately will not bear the results of 
close investigation. In 1884, A. P. Marble, Esq., read 
before the Worcester Society of Antiquity a paper upon 
the same subject, which was published in the " New Eng- 
land Magazine " in 1886. The statements already printed 
formed the basis of his sketch, but his attempt to make a 



344 History of Princeton 

readable romance led him still farther than Mr. Harlow to 
enlarge upon the facts and to introduce much fiction that 
the casual reader will accept as truth. Reference to the 
loss of the child may also be found in the Keyes Genealogy, 
1880, and in the Worcester County History, 1879. 

After many perusals of this story in the varied forms in 
which it appeared, I felt a desire to look into the matter 
and to make clear some points which seemed to me to need 
explanation. I therefore commenced a thorough investi- 
gation, only to be surprised at almost every turn I made. 

I have been informed that Mrs. Brown, now deceased, 
whose letter furnished this strange story, was a woman of 
marked intelligence, of integrity and personal worth. She 
stood so high in the estimation of her acquaintances that 
it is impossible to do otherwise than believe that, as Jar as 
she was concerned, her statement was correct. Certainly 
the whole tenor of her letter gives evidence of intellectual 
ability, as well as an earnest desire to state only that which 
she believed to be true. Of Mrs. Anderson I can find no 
trace in Deerfield, N. Y., or its vicinity, although I have 
made inquiries personally and corresponded in many di- 
rections. The children of Mrs. Whitmore, now living, can 
give me no information upon the subject, and the children 
of Mrs. Brown appear to have no papers or facts which add 
to the statement of their mother. The whole story of the 
alleged confession stands, then, upon the statement made 
by Mrs. Brown, which she declared she had received from 
her sister Mrs. Whitmore, who had heard it from the lips 
of Mrs. Anderson, to whom the murderer confessed. Thus 
passing through the minds of three individuals, it would 
not be strange if there were some mistakes, and if the imag- 
ination was drawn upon for some of the details. One nat- 
urally receives the impression that the first letter of Mrs. 
Brown (1827) was written at or near the time of the alleged 
confession, but a careful scrutiny of the second letter fails 
to determine that point. 

The results of my investigations were presented briefly 
in a paper read before The Worcester Society of Antiquity 



Wachiisett Legends 345 

in 1 89 1, and published in its proceedings for that year. As 
the only basis of the story of the confession is the letter of 
Mrs. Brown's, in endeavoring to establish the truth, that 
must pass under criticism, and I must confine myself 
almost entirely to her statement, although I may refer in- 
cidentally to the statements of Mr. Harlow and Mr. Marble, 
but neither of these writers had any information about the 
confession except as published by Mr. Everett in 1859. 

Redemption Rock, a huge gray boulder, in a clump of 
trees and underbrush, on a farm in the Northeast section of 
the town, is a most interesting relic of early Indian History. 
Here, Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, wife of Rev. Joseph Row- 
landson, the first minister of Lancaster, was redeemed from 
captivity from the Indians, in May, 1676, after the de- 
struction of that town by the Indians under King Philip. 
The release of Mrs. Rowlandson, after a captivity of eleven 
weeks and five days, was secured through the efforts of 
Mr. John Hoar of Concord who bravely went among the 
hostile savages, and obtained her ransom, after a good 
deal of ceremony and delay. 

The story of Mrs. Rowlandson's capture, the details of 
the burning of Lancaster, and the murder of so many of 
its inhabitants, the account of her travels, sufferings and 
release, as related in her quaint and inimitable "Removes, " 
are among the most interesting, as well as touching, narra- 
tives of Indian history. 

After her capture, Mrs. Rowlandson was taken to the 
vicinity of Wachusett Mountain, and thence by successive 
"removes" through the wilderness to Northfield, on the 
Connecticut River. "After many weary steps," she 
states, returning from her wilderness wanderings, "we 
came to Wachusett." There she remained until her 
release. 

Not only was King Philip with her captors, but several 
other of the leading Sagamores, and among them, Quinni- 
pln, the master of Mrs. Rowlandson, and his wife, the cele- 
brated "Squaw Metamoo," "Queen of Pocasset, " "A 
severe and proud dame," says Mrs. Rowlandson, "be- 



346 History of Princeton 

stowing every day in dressing herself, near as much time 
as any of the gentry of the land, powdering her hair and 
painting her face. " Her narrative proceeds, ''On Tuesday 
morning they called their General Court (as they stiled it) 
to consult and determine whether I should go home or no, 
and they all seemingly consented that I should go, except 
Philip, who would not come among them." This absence 
of Philip is explained in another passage in the narrative: — 
"Philip smelling the business called me to him and asked 
me what I would give him to tell me some good news and 
to speak a good word for me that I might go home to- 
morrow. I told him I could not tell what to give him; 
I would give anything I had and asked him what he would 
have. He said two coats and twenty shillings in money 
and half a bushel of seed corn and some tobacco. I thanked 
him for his love, but I knew that good news as well as that 
crafty fox. " 

In November, 1879, Hon. George F. Hoar, of Worcester, 
a lineal descendant of John Hoar of Concord, purchased 
of William S. Everett about half an acre of land, in the 
center of which "Redemption Rock" is situated, and 
caused the following inscription to be placed upon that face 
of the rock which rises some twelve feet from the ground. 

" Upon this rock, May 2nd. 1676, was made the agreement 
for the ransom of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson of Lancaster, 
between the hidians and John Hoar of Concord, King Philip 
was with the Indians, but refused his consent. " 

The land where Redemption Rock is, formerly belonged 
to Israel Everett, father of Abram and brother of Dea. J. T. 
Everett, whose residence in Everettville was not far from 
the spot referred to. 

In the summer of 1901, Senator Hoar, deeded this prop- 
erty to his grand-nephew, John Hoar, son of the late 
Sherman Hoar, the only one of the family by the name of 
John. This deed was executed, sealed and delivered in 
the presence of thirty descendants of John Hoar of Con- 
cord, whose signatures as witnesses appear on the docu- 
ment. 



Wachusett Legends 347 

Mt. Adams Celebration. In 1825, at the inauguration 
of John Quincy Adams to the Presidency, an attempt was 
made by the inhabitants, at the suggestion of the late 
Ward N. Boylston, Esq., to substitute the name of Mount 
Adams for the time honored Wachusett. Accordingly on 
the 4th of March a grand celebration was held. The day 
was welcomed by the discharge of cannon in the village 
and from the mountain, and ringing of the bell at sunrise, 
which was repeated at noon and sun setting. At three 
o'clock P.M. an excellent dinner was given at Mount Adams 
Hotel by Ward Nicholas Boylston, Esq., to the militia 
companies, military and other public officers and inhabi- 
tants of the town and invited guests from neighboring 
towns. They had previously attended public worship in 
the Congregational Meeting House, where appropriate 
prayers were offered and a discourse delivered by the Rev. 
Mr. Clarke. It is calculated that nearly seven hundred 
persons partook of this truly generous entertainment. In 
the evening a large bonfire was lighted on the mountain 
which was distinctly seen at Boston.^ 

1 From the Massachusetts Spy of March 11, 1829. 

Mr. Editor: It will be recollected that on the inauguration of John Quincy 
Adams to the presidency, four years ago this day, the good people of Prince- 
ton (hastily no doubt), at the suggestion of an old friend of mine, saw fit 
to honor me with a new name, that of Mount Adams. I had at that time 
very serious doubts at to the propriety of the course taken by my friends 
in Princeton, although I did not then remonstrate. During the four years 
last past, I have been in rather a disagreeable dilemma. Some of my 
friends and visitors have greeted me by my new name, while others have 
been determined to know me by no other than by my ancient and well 
established title, Wachusett. Now, my age, rank and elevation will, I 
trust, justify me in speaking for myself and settling this matter. I am 
satisfied with the administration of Mr. Adams. Of the course he has 
taken in relation to the leaders of the federal party, I have nothing to say, 
because I have not in my possession "unequivocal evidence" upon which 
I could form an opinion. As Mr. Adams retires from ofilce at this time, 
with due deference to him, I beg leave, through the medium of your paper, 
to inform the pubhc that I have resumed my former name, by which, alone, 
I wish hereafter to be known and distinguished. 

Respectfully, I remain your substantial friend, 

Wachusett Mountain. 
Princeton, March 4, 1829. 



348 History of Princeton 

MONADNOCK FROM WACHUSETT 

I would I were a painter, for the sake 
Of a sweet picture, and of her who led, 

A fitting guide, with reverential tread, 
Into that mountain mystery.* First a lake 
Tinted with sunset; next the wavy lines 
Of far receding hills; and yet more far, 
Monadnock lifting from his night of pines 
His rosy forehead to the evening star. 
Beside us, purple-zoned, Wachusett laid 
His head against the West, whose warm light made 

His aureole; and o'er him, sharp and clear. 
Like a shaft of lightning in mid-launching stayed, 
A single level cloud-Une, shone upon 
By the fierce glances of the sunken sun. 

Menaced the darkness with its golden spear I 

So twilight deepened round us. Still and black 
The great woods cHmbed the mountain at our back; 
And on their skirts, where yet the fingering day 
On the shorn greenness of the clearing lay. 

The brown old farm-house fike a bird's-nest hung. 
With home-Ufe sounds the desert air was stirred: 
The bleat of sheep along the hill we heard, 
The bucket splashing in the cool, sweet well, 
The pasture-bars that clattered as they fell; 
Dogs barked, fowls fluttered, cattle lowed; the gate 
Of the barn-yard creaked beneath the merry weight 

Of sun-brown children, listening, while they swung, 
The welcome sound of supper-call to hear; 
And down the shadowy lane, in tinkJings clear, 

The pastoral curfew of the cow-bell rung. 

Thus soothed and pleased, our backward path we took, 
Praising the farmer's home. He only spake, 
Looking into the sunset o'er the lake, 

Like one to whom the far-ofif is most near 
"Yes, most folks think it has a pleasant look; 
I love it for my good old mother's sake, 

Who lived and died here in the peace of God!" 
The lesson of his words we pondered o'er, 

* It was in the 6o's that Whittier came to Princeton to visit a Quaker 
friend, Miss Howells, who accompanied him to the Roper farm where he 
was inspired to write this poem. 



Wachusett Legends 349 

As silently we turned the eastern flank 
Of the mountain, where its shadow deepest sank, 
Doubling the night along our rugged road: 
We felt that man was more than his abode, — 

The inward life than Nature's raiment more; 
And the warm sky, the sundown-tinted hill, 

The forest and the lake, seemed dwarfed and dim 
Before the saintly soul, whose human will 
Meekly in the Eternal footsteps trod. 
Making her homely toil and household ways 
An earthly echo of the song of praise 

Swelling from angel lips and harps of seraphim, 

John Greenleqf Whittier 



CHAPTER XIV 
MISCELLANY 

Princeton as a Summer Resort. City residents were 
attracted to Princeton by the pure bracing air and beautiful 
scenery as early as 1830, 40 years before the advent of the 
railroad through the town. 

Wachusett House. A seven mile journey over hill and 
dale by stage coach was the only means of reaching the 
village. During the summer of 1856 a large party from 
the Wachusett House (then owned by John Brooks Sen.) 
went down to the Boylston Farm and bribed one of the 
farm lads to take the crowd back to the hotel in a two 
wheeled cart drawn by oxen and dump them at the front 
door. A minister was of the party to lend dignity to the 
occasion. Thus do we early learn of "Joy Rides." 

In the spring of 1857 P. A. Beaman and Isaac F. Thomp- 
son hired the hotel of John Brooks and continued the 
business for two years, when Mr. Beaman purchased the 
property. The present Bowling Alley and Laundry build- 
ing was erected in 1861. The large barn now standing on 
the property was built in 1864. The house was enlarged 
by raising and placing a new story on the ground floor and 
building a large L in 1869-70. A more commodious 
dining room was added in 1873. The present residence of 
Mr. A. T. Beaman was remodeled and enlarged as an 
"annex" in 1883. The business grew to such proportions 
during this period that many guests lodged in nearby 
houses which were enlarged for this purpose. Two hun- 
dred guests were often entertained at week ends and many 
were turned away for lack of accommodation. 

This period 1866 to 1880 marked the crest of the wave 
of prosperity incident to the hotel business in Princeton. 

350 



Miscellany 351 

After the death of Mr. P. A. Beaman, Mar. i, 1894, his 
sons A. T. and H. C. Beaman continued the business until 
the hotel was destroyed by fire Nov. 28, 19 10. 

Prospect House now the Princeton Inn. In 1860-61 
Mr. Wilkes Roper remodeled the Baptist Church making 
it into a hotel. Mr. I. F. Thompson purchased the prop- 
erty at this time. He continued as its proprietor until 
1874 when he sold to George L. Bliss of Worcester. Mr. 
Bliss enlarged the dining room and made additions to the 
bam. About seventy-five guests could be accommodated 
at this time. Mr. Bliss did a good business for nine years. 
He sold the property to John E. Day of Worcester in 1883. 
Mr. Wayland C. Davis leased the property and remained 
its proprietor for eighteen years. During this time in 
1895 Mr. Davis added a story to the house so that one 
hundred or more guests could be accommodated. 

From 1 90 1 to 19 13 several parties leased or owned the 
property with varying degrees of success. In the spring 
of 1913 Mr. H. C. Beaman purchased the property and is 
the present owner. 

Mountain House. In 1856 Daniel Howe enlarged the 
farm house formerly owned by Micah Hobbs at the base 
of Wachusett and probably began taking summer boarders 
at that time. In 1859 Samuel C. and Moses H. Bullard 
bought the property of Mr. Howe, built a bam and opened 
the Mountain House to the public. They added a story 
to the main house, and built an additional wing in 1880. 
This enabled them to accommodate about one hundred 
guests. Mr. Samuel Bullard died in 1887 and his brother 
Moses H. continued the business until he sold to Gilbert A. 
Derby of Fitchburg in 1894. ^^^- Derby conducted the 
hotel nine years. The property changed owners several 
times until it was purchased by George E. Doherty of 
Somerville in the spring of 19 14. He opened the house 
to the public in June. The house was burned July 11, 
1914. 

Grand View House. After disposing of the Micah Hobbs 
House to S. C. and M. H. Bullard in 1859, Mr. Daniel 



352 History of Princeton 

Howe built on the easterly side of the road opposite the 
Mountain House. He died shortly after and his widow 
who was a sister of S. C. and M. H. Bullard opened the 
house for summer guests. At her death her son William R. 
Howe continued the business. In 1893 Mr. Howe made 
extensive additions so the hotel contained forty sleeping 
rooms and was called the "Grand View House." This 
was burned in Sept., 1899. 

Mt. Pleasant House. Mr. Charles A. Whittaker opened 
his new house for boarders in 1868. The spot selected for 
this summer hotel was an ideal one. Situated three fourths 
of a mile west of the Post Office, it stands on an elevation 
commanding a beautiful view of the surrounding country 
with forest, orchard and mowing land in close proximity, 
and was appropriately named " Mt. Pleasant House. " The 
business proved so successful that Mr. Whittaker built ex- 
tensive additions in 1875. Other enlargements were made 
from time to time until from forty to sixty guests were 
accommodated. Mr. Moses C. Goodnow, son-in-law of 
Mr. Whittaker, took charge of the business in 1879 and 
continued until 1908. 

After this a portion of the house was let to different 
parties for the summer months. In the spring of 19 12 
Mr. Goodnow sold the property to Edward C. and Harry S. 
Whitney of Worcester, who made radical changes in the 
premises. They removed a portion of the house to an 
adjoining lot where Edward C. now spends the greater 
part of the year. Harry Whitney then remodeled the 
main house and now has a delightful country home which 
he occupies permanently. 

Howard House. Mr. Nelson S. Howard built a modest 
house on land purchased of Mr. P. A. Beaman in 1868 
and began taking summer boarders. Business prospered 
from the first and we find Mr. Howard enlarging the house 
from time to time, until he could take care of forty or 
more guests. He retired from the business in 1889 and 
the house has since been let to different parties for the 
summer months. 



Miscellany 353 

"Harrington Farm" has a wide reputation as a place 
for summer recreation. It is favorably situated on the 
western slope of Wachusett Mountain, with an extensive 
view and all the attractions of running brooks, ponds, 
forests, orchards and gardens which furnish an abundance 
of fresh vegetables. This farm first offered its attractions 
to city people in 1882; and though the buildings have 
been enlarged Mrs. A. R. E. Harrington and son Joseph C, 
have no difficulty in filling the house every summer. 
They accommodate about thirty guests. 

Pratt's Cottage. The earliest knowledge we have of 
boarding business here is in 1867 when James B. Mirick 
took the property from Dr. Alphonso Brooks and opened a 
boarding house. He conducted the house seven years. 
Mr. William G. Morse followed Mr. Mirick and held the 
property two years when it was purchased by the present 
occupants. This hostelry has the distinction of being the 
only house open to the public throughout the year. Under 
the management of Mrs. Harriet Pratt and her daughters, 
Lillian and Harriet, the hotel has made a reputation for 
square dealing and good service during a series of years 
dating back to 1876. 

Woodland Cottage, under the capable management of 
Mrs. Edward A. Padgham has for the past ten years been 
a favorite resort for those who desire quiet home surround- 
ings. It is situated on Prospect Street, in close proximity 
to church, library, school, store and physician; with a fine 
view, reaching far away to the east, where can be seen in a 
clear day. Prospect Hill in Waltham, and Blue Hill in 
Milton. The house accommodates ten or twelve guests. 

Grimes House. Other persons interested in this busi- 
ness who might be mentioned, are Mr. Edwin Grimes who 
took a limited number of guests for many years in the old 
colonial house formerly owned by Dr. Partridge, which 
stands opposite the Pratt Cottage. 

Pine Hill House. Mr. Joseph Miller, who began taking 
guests for the summer in the house now owned by Joseph 
and Edward Brewer near Pine Hill. This was a very 



354 History of Princeton 

sightly location and Mr. Miller enlarged the house and 
continued the business until 1888. 

Fernside. Mr. Wilkes Roper made several ventures in 
the summer boarding business; the most notable being 
his purchase of the property now known as Fernside, in 
1870. During his occupancy two wings were added to the 
house. He continued the business until 1885 when Mr. F. 
A. Boyd took the property on lease for four years. Mr. 
Roper then sold the premises in 1890 to the present owners 
who run the house as a vacation rest for working girls. 

Summit House. Since early in the nineteenth century 
Wachusett Mountain has offered a goal for many a traveller, 
explorer and sightseer. In 1866 Mr. William G. Morse 
had a booth for the sale of candy and cigars on the summit 
of the Mountain during the summer months. The only 
means of transporting his material was by a small two 
wheeled cart drawn by a sturdy Canadian pony over the 
rocky path leading up from the Mountain House. Busi- 
ness evidently proved good, for he erected a small stone 
house on the summit in 1870. He continued the business 
during the summer months four years. 

In 1874 the Wachusett Mountain Co. built a road from 
Mr. Amasa Smith's near Pine Hill, to the Summit, and 
erected the first Summit House and barn the following 
year. In 1879 the house was enlarged and a Bowling 
Alley was built. Brigham and Derby were the proprietors 
at this time. 

The Mountain was sold to P. A. Beaman & Son in 1882 
and they erected a three story building forty feet square in 
1884-5. They conducted a general hotel business in the 
summer months until the State took the property for a 
Reservation in 1900. 

After the State acquired the Mt. Wachusett Property 
in 1900 Mr. Alley L. Harrington hired the hotel for several 
years. Mr. William R. Howe afterwards hired it for some 
years. 

The Reservation Commission early in 1907 decided to 
modernize the hotel at the summit and engaged J. C. F. 



Miscellany 355 

Mirick to prepare plans for this purpose. Work was 
started in September of that year. The house was opened 
for guests in June 1908. The Commission hiring a Mr. 
Osgood and wife to operate the hotel. The following year 
Messrs Charles E, and Thomas Home hired the property. 
The hotel became so popular that the Commission deemed 
it advisable to build an "Annex," comprising a billiard 
room, laundry and several sleeping rooms in 1910. From 
that date to the present (19 15) the hotel has grown in 
prosperity under the able management of Mr. Everett W. 
Needham, Supt. of the Reservation. 

In view of the facts herein noted it will be observed that 
for more than three-quarters of a century Princeton has 
attained note as a summer resort. 

With the advent of the automobile the accommodation 
of summer guests for any extended period has become a 
thing of the past, and in its place has come the summer 
resident, who buys a farm or building site, erects a modern 
dwelling and often becomes a citizen. There are forty- 
live of this class at present. 

The valuation of the town has increased from $817,346 
in 1890 to $1,485,128 in 1914, and with improved ways 
of reaching this beautiful hill town, the future prosperity 
of this community would seem assured. 

{Courtesy of Mr. C. J. F. Mirick.) 

INNHOLDERS AND TAVERNS 

The records of the County Court furnish the names of a number of the 
innholders or tavern keepers, as the law required them to be licensed and 
recorded. The following list comprises all names recorded from 1760 to 
1795, but may not include all who "kept tavern" during that period. 

Abijah Moore 1760, i, 2, 3, 4. 

Zachariah Harvey 1760. (Wilder was here before) 

Joseph Sargent 1765, 6, 7, 8, 70, 2, 3, 6, 9, 80. 

The first license of Mr. Sargent is thus recorded May 1765, "Joseph 
Sargeant of Princetown is Licensed by this Court to keep a publick Tavern 
in the House Lately occupied by Capt. Abijah Moor as a Tavern he having 
purchased s"^ Estate, & the s*^ Joseph thereupon recognized in the sura of 
Fifty Pounds with Two Suretys namely William Richardson, Esq. & Eben'" 
Jones in the sum of Twenty five Pound Each Conditioned that he duely 
account with ye Collector & pay his Excise according to Law. Also in 



35^ History of Princeton 

the sum of £io with s*^ Suretys in £5 each Conditioned that he keep good 
rule & order and duely observe ye Law relating to Innholders, at ye same 
Time took ye oath by (law required) Relating to Bills of Credit of ye neigh- 
booring Governments". Vol. 336. 

Joseph Gibbs 1769, 1770. 

James Mirick 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, 1773. 

Eph. Woolson 

Wm. Thomson & Boaz Moore may have been in 1766. 

Joseph Phelps 1771, 1772, 1773, 1776. 

Robert Cowdin 1771, 1772, 1773. 

William Richardson i773, 1776, 1779, 1787, 1788. 

Caleb Mirick 17 73, 1776, 1779. Mr. Mirick had a bill of 

£45 for entertainment furnished at the sale 
of Timothy Ruggles estate which was con- 
fiscated by the Government. 

Josiah Davis i779- 

Abraham Gale 1780 & 1783. 

Thomas Parker I779- 

WilHam Dodd i779- 

Michael Gill 1784. 

Eben'' Parker 1788. 

John Russell 1787, 1788, 1791, 1792. 

Jonas Beaman 1785, 1787, 1788. 

Amos Gale 1785. 

David Rice i795- 

Caleb Mirick 1791, 1792. 

Some of these were licensed as "Retailers". 

The first public house for "entertainment of man & beast" was that 
of Joshua Wilder to whom a plot of land was granted by the Court in 1742 
upon the condition of erection of such a house. This was on the road 
between Lancaster and Barre and the towns north and west, — the highway 
to Petersham the newly formed town. 

Mr. Wilder kept the tavern here for several years perhaps until about 
1762 when he disposed of the place to Benjamin Houghton and it has re- 
mained in the possession of his descendents until the present day. There 
is no evidence that Mr. Houghton kept a public house. 

Abijah Moore purchased in (1748?) the estate on the Sterling road known 
as the Major J. A. Reed place near Russell's and before 1750 opened tavern. 

In this house the first meeting of the district was held and the first 
public religious service. In 1765 Mr. Moore sold to Joseph Sargent, whose 
hcense is above recorded. He was licensed down to 1780 and perhaps 
later and died 1797. 

Dr. Z. Harvey who seemed willing to take any office in the town was 
licensed in 1760 as an Innholder. He lived at that time on the Ebenezer 
Parker place, and Mr. Parker is recorded as entertainmg the pubUc in 1788. 

Thomas Parker perhaps in 1779 took it of Dr. Harvey. 

Wm. Thompson who lived in the west part near Hubbardston in 1766 
(Lincoln place west of Warren Griffins) and 

Boaz Moore in lot No. 32 in west part, both licensed 



Miscellany 357 

Joseph Gibbs the elder 1769 & 70 possibly in #30, and this is probably 
the same spot where Lieut. Abraham Gale of Shays Rebellion fame dis- 
pensed food and drink in 1785. 

James Mirick lived in #4 of Rutland East Wing, perhaps where G. O. 
Skinner now lives, hcensed 1769-73, perhaps taking part of the business 
formerly given Col. Sargent on that highway. (Capt. of a Company in 
Revolution and died in Boston 1775.) 

Ephraim Woolson one of the early physicians and probably the only 
one at time was hcensed 1770-71 (See deeds 41/56 and my plan) He 
lived between Gibbs and the place where line of "B " crosses the road back 
of Library. The lot extended to the Wachusett House (Gleason place). 
Dr. Woolson afterwards lived near G. O. Skinner's (the Boyle place). 

Joseph Phelps whose whereabouts are not determined 177 1-6. 

Robert Cowdin in lot #27? 1771-73 (or lot south of #27). 

William Richardson between D. H. Gregory's and Wilder's 1773-76-77 
1787, 1788. 

Caleb Mirick early kept tavern in his house. No license until 1773 but 
his place is referred to in town books earlier? 

Son Caleb followed him and house discontinued about 18 16. 

Caleb Mirick said to have given up keeping tavern selling and drinking 
rum 1818 to 1821. Cut down his sign post. 

Josiah Davis in 1779 he lived on the road to Rutland now owned by 
Goddard (near Capt. Davis'). 

Wm. Dodd on road to W'estminster 1779 &c. 

Michael Gill 1784 and later but no record of his abiding place. He 
moved from place to place in later years, once hving where Silas Fay did 
(Kenney). 

John Russell (and later son Charles) on N. E. corner Sterhng road and 
lower Westminster road, house now standing. Charles took it 1824 (Albert 
C. Howe says the first traveling Buffalo was entertained here). 

Cyrus Smith before 1824. Estabrook's place. Washington Estabrooks. 

Jonas Beaman 1785-8 old Beaman place. 

Amos Gale in #20 on Capt. John Jones' place. 

Dav'id Rice near Hubbardston line. 

Dr. Eph. Wilson-Grimes house. Dr. Bagg bought of Wilson but did 
not entertain. 

Peter Richardson took it about 1825, then 1832 Col. Moses Gill, then 
Aaron Flowers in 1833. 

Capt. Edw. Goodnow did not keep tavern until about 1824 in the old 
house. 

Prospect House, — I. F. Thompson 1861. 

Geo. L. Bliss 1874. 
W. C. Davis 1 883-1 901. 
Several parties 1901-1913 
H. C. Braman 1913 — 



Summit House, — 



Wm. G. Morse. 

Gilbert Derby (of Fitchbiurg). 



358 History of Princeton 

Wachusett House, 

Page 1822. 

Cyrus Smith 1824 

Joseph Davis 1826 

Major Lamb 1833 to 1835 

Ivory Wilder 1835-38 

Josiah D. Howe 1838. 

Miranda Page 1841 

William Chfiford 1843 

Samuel Carr 1845 

Old house moved off and new one built by John Brooks opened in 1849 
by M. Marsh 

John Brooks, Jr. till 1854 

James Boyd 1854 to 1856 

John Brooks, Jr 1856-57. 

P. A. Beaman & I. F. Thompson 1857-59. 

I. F. Thompson 1859-60. 

P. A. Beaman bought in i860 

(Notes by late Albert C. Howe in 1906.) 

Old Stores. The first store building in Princeton was 
built by Wm. Richardson, with a tenement in the rear for 
the family. It stood on the Common between the present 
D. H. Gregory store and Ivory Wilder's (now Daniel 
Davis') but nearer the Gregory's. Mr, Richardson died 
in 18 14 and W. N. Boylston bought all the land on the 
Common to the top of Meetinghouse Hill. About 1826 
the building was moved to the site now owned by Daniel 
Davis. 

In 1839 or 1840 Mr. Ivory Wilder bought the store 
building with the land on which it stood, but later tore it 
down and built the present house which was originally 
twice as large as now; a double house, with one tenement 
for himself and one for the minister, Rev. Willard M. 
Harding. Rev. Alfred Goldsmith succeeded him. It was 
later let to others. 

The old store was used as such till about 1830. William 
Richardson from Lancaster built and occupied it until he 
died in 1814. Then Reuben Brooks, Broker John Brooks 
and Pynson Blake successively hired it until the latter 
moved into the building now owned by D. H. Gregory Co. 
He then took as a partner Jonas B. Allen. 



Miscellany 359 

This first old store was occupied for two or three years 
as a shoe manufactory and then used as a wheelwright 
shop by a man by the name of Russell. The tenement part 
was occupied by Fortunatus Buss and family. He was a 
shoemaker and was the last occupant. 

The Gregory store was probably built by Gov. Gill, 
whose executors sold it to Rev. Mr. Murdock (fourth 
minister) who in turn sold it to Col. Jacob W. Watson. 
Luther Nash lived there for a while and afterwards it was 
let as a tenement until Mr. Pynson Blake bought it about 
1830, removing from the old store and taking Mr. Allen 
into partnership. 

D. H. Gregory next bought out the store in 1840 which 
has continued since in the Gregory name. (Mr. Boylston 
had the old store moved to the site now occupied by Daniel 
Davis.) Calvin Bullock of Royalston built the store 
building in the west village. He died in 18 19. 

Town Hay Scales. The first weighing machine or hay 
scales was a tall narrow building with the weighing appar- 
atus or scales in the top of the building. The team was 
driven under the building or scales and the load lifted or 
raised by chains attached to the wheels and raised by a 
windlass situated below to the beam of a large steelyard 
that weighed it by registering below near the windlass. 
The chains attached to the wheels after being lifted were 
attached or hung on to the steel yard (as we call it). 

Market Wagons. Sometime in the early 20s Samuel 
Randall of this town began to run a market wagon to 
Boston. One horse and covered wagon. Later on he 
went with a two horse team. After a few years, he sold 
to Moses Copeland who sold to Willard Temple (all of 
Princeton). After running a short time he sold to Blake & 
Allen, who continued it until about 1840 when the line 
was discontinued. Blake and x'\llen put on a four horse 
team and carried great quantities of dressed veal, Iamb, 
butter, and other farm produce, returning bringing goods 
for their store, etc.: Joel Hapgood drove a one horse 
market wagon to Boston in the 20s. 



360 History of Princeton 

About the year 1830, Ezra B. Keyes of Princeton ran 
a one horse market wagon to Boston for about two years. 

About 1835 or 1836, Erasmus D. Goodnow & Co. of 
Princeton began to run a four horse market wagon. They 
too carried large quantities of farm products and brought 
back goods for their store and also leather for their shoe 
manufactory. They also transported their shoes to Boston. 
This team was run by different owners until about 1850 
when it was discontinued. 

In 1 85 1 John A. Rice ran a market wagon to Boston 
one year, then sold to Henry Fairbanks who continued the 
business until about 1863. 

From 1865 to 1870 John Adams of Princeton ran a one 
horse wagon to Worcester. He was succeeded by Levi H. 
Howe who continued for several years in the business, 
since which time there has been no regular market wagon 
from Princeton. 

Stage Lines Through Princeton. The first Stage route 
through Princeton must have been established a little 
time subsequent to 1820, by a man by the name of Bassett. 
It ran from Royalston, through the towns of Gardner, 
Westminster, Princeton and West Boylston, to Worcester. 
It made but one trip a week. I think it never carried the 
U. S. mail; only passengers; but during the early part of 
its runs, it supplied subscribers on its route with the 
Massachusetts Spy, throwing it out at each house as it 
passed along. After running thus a few years the route 
was shortened, running only from Gardner to Worcester; 
always a small coach with two horses. 

It continued to run until the opening of the Vermont & 
Massachusetts Railroad, through Gardner, the last pro- 
prietor and driver being John Edgell of Gardner. The 
second stage route through Princeton ran from Barre 
through the towns of Hubbardston, Princeton, Sterling, 
Lancaster, Bolton, Stowe, corner of Sudbury (near May- 
nard), corner of Lincoln, Weston, Waltham, Watertown, 
and Cambridgeport, to Boston. 

The changes of horses were made at Princeton, Bolton 



Miscellany 361 

and Lincoln, and stages were run upon this route until the 
completion of the railroad from Boston to Fitchburg. 
The first driver through Princeton, was Abel Lakin, and 
the last, Joe Maynard; they stopped to change mail at 
each Post Office of each town. This route was established 
about 1823. 

The third route was established in 1849, running from 
Princeton Center to Oakdale. l^pon the opening of the 
Worcester and Nashua Railroad, the Oakdale and Prince- 
ton Center coach and four horses and carrying the U. S. 
mail, continued to run until the opening of the Boston, 
Barre and Gardner Rail Road, in 187 1. D. Frank Smith 
who had been driving to Oakdale commenced the new route 
between the Depot and Center. He was succeeded by 
P. C. Doolittle who purchased the line in 1883 and contin- 
ued its manager 26 years, having had associated with him 
at different times Willis H. Clark and Herbert A. Jackson. 
In 1909 John Perkins, the present proprietor purchased 
the line. Now a stage is running from East Princeton to 
Oakdale and carrying the U. S. mail. This was established 
in 1849, the coach meeting the Princeton coach at the so- 
called Richardson Tavern, the latter taking the mail to 
Oakdale, until the discontinuance of the latter. 

Postmasters and Post Offices. The first Post Office 
was in the store built about 1800 by John Trowbridge 
Dana. It stood near the house formerly owned by Thomas 
Kivlon, South of Mr. Frank Skinner's. The store is now 
gone. The Kivlon house and this old store building were 
owned and occupied by Mr. Dana three or four years until 
his death in October, 1802. Then Stephen P. Gardner kept 
the store three or four years, then Samuel Stevenson bought 
the store. He was the first appointed Post Master in 
town. Mrs. Stevenson was a sister of Charles Russell Esq. 
Mr. Russell about 18 16 succeeded Col. Stephenson in the 
store and Post Office. The store building of Mirick & 
Russell now the Russell Mansion House was built in 1823. 
Mirick & Russell commenced as partners in this little old 
store for two or three years until the new store was built. 



362 History of Princeton 

Before the establishment of the hrst post office in 1812 
the inhabitants were dependent mostly on private in- 
dividuals for their mail. Miss Elizabeth Fuller the minis- 
ter's tiaui^hter, in her diary in 1791 reports, " Father's gone 
to Worcester, to get the j)ai)ers." One can fmd by search- 
ing till' cohnnns of the Worcester Spy, atlvertisement of 
unclaimed letters for Princeton people. The earliest date 
at which a stage coach carried (he mail has not been as- 
certained but there are evidences that some stage line ran 
through some i)art of the town, perhaps on the way to the 
("onncclicut kiver. It is thought there nuist have been 
some line on the old North County road, coming down 
Justice llill from Sterling, and on to Westminster, and 
perhaps farther north to Barre. It has always been a 
suii)rise to me that I have not been able to fmd a direct 
road from Fancaster to Rutland, through Princeton. Very 
few towns in this vicinity were acconunodated with post 
office facilities j)revious to 1800, except W^)rcester, which 
oKice was opened in 1775, with Isaiah Thomas as post- 
master. 

At lirst, the post oflice business in Princeton was run on 
a \-ery limited scale, as is shown by one report of Postmaster 
Russell. At (h(> end of March 1S13, $2.65 was due the 
general post office. At the last ([uarter of March 1830, 
there was due #27.61. 

Rates of Postaok i8r3. 

For single Ictlcrs, composed of one piece of paper. Miles. Cents. 

Any distance not exceeding 40 8 

Over 40 and not exceeding go 10 

Over go and not exceeding 150 12} 

Over 150 and not exceeding 300 17 

Over 300 and not exceeding 500 20 

Over 500 25 

Double Letters. 

Or those composed of two pieces of jiaper, are charged with double those 
rates. 



Miscellany 363 

Triple Letters, 
With triple those rates. 

Quadruple Letters. 

With quadruple those rates. 

The first gummed envelope was made in Worcester by 
Dr. Russell Hawes in 1848; improved by James A. Arnold 
in 1859, and perfected in 1865 by H. D. and D. W. Swift, 
of Logan, Swift and Brigham (U. S. Envelope Company). 

The Washington Post Office department has record of a 
contract made in 181 5 for mail carried from Worcester to 
Keene, N. H., via intermediate offices. This appears to 
be the only route serving Princeton until 1825 when mail 
from Boston to Albany was received daily. In 1828 and 
later there was considerable correspondence with the 
General post office in regard to the removal of our post- 
master, by someone who wished the appointment. The 
office at that time was located at the junction of all the 
main roads that pass through the town, probably identical 
with the present Russell's corner; and kept in a brick 
building, in which was a store and large hall for public 
gatherings. 

The remonstrants spoke of the present postmaster 
Charles Russell who has been in the office as clerk, and 
postmaster since its establishment, as " an efficient, faithful 
and accommodating officer, who gives entire satisfaction to 
the inhabitants, especially those who transact the most 
business through this office." 

No change was made, and Mr. Russell continued in 
service. Among his reports to the General Office we read 
"Two lists are made out each week and sent to the different 
meeting houses each Sunday, to be posted ; and letters and 
papers delivered free to those who live within a mile of the 
office, who are in the habit of paying their postage, quar- 
terly, semi-annually or annually. This seems to be first 
and only notice of Rural Free delivery in Princeton. 

At the present time the work of the post office is largely 
increased, especially because twenty-nine post offices have 



364 History of Princeton 

the name of Princeton; that in New Jersey is probably the 
oldest one. Confusion often arises from the delivery of 
Provincetown mail here. Mail of this description is often 
so large our postmaster feels obliged to keep a Provincetown 
directory. 

Princeton Post Office Established 20 Nov. 181 2. 

Postmaster. Date of Appointment. 

Samuel Stephenson 20 Nov. 181 2 

Charles Russell 21 Nov. 1817 

Moses G. Cheever 25 June 1846 

George F. Folger i June 1849 

Ivory Wilder 18 April 1854 

Moses Gill 11 Dec. 1856 

Alphonzo Brooks 15 Feb. 1859 

Ivory Wilder 19 Dec. 1862 

Alphonzo Brooks 7 Mar. 1865 

David H. Gregory 27 Sept. 1866 

Leonard Chandler 18 Sept. 1886 

Josiah D. Gregory 14 May 1889 

Rajonond J. Gregory 1915 

East Princeton Post Office Established 29 May 1849. 

Horace V. Pratt 29 May 1849 

Joseph Whitcomb 13 Jan. 1855 

John A. Mirick 19 April 1870 

Warren H. Whitcomb 11 Mar. 1878 

Samuel J. Jewett 18 Sept. 1886 

Warren H. Whitcomb 25 May 1889 

Princeton Depot Post Office Established 29 Jan. 1877. 

George F. Wetherbee 29 Jan. 1877 

John K. Boyer 18 Sept. 1886 

Gilbert A. Bigelow 28 May 1889 

Brooks Station Post Office Established 17 Jan. 1877. 

Charles R. Bartlett 17 Jan. 1877 

Charles Winship 22 Oct. 1877 

W.K.Parker 12 Mar. 1888 

Daniel Davis Jr 13 Sept. 1888 

George F. Pratt 16 Jan. 1893 

Edward W. Sheldon 13 Jan. 1894 

Alec St. George 3 July 1896 

M. H. Warner 10 May 1910 



Miscellany 



365 



Mount Wachusett Post Office Established 28 July 1873 

Darius A. Putnam 28 July 1873 

Moses H. Bullard 25 May 1875 

Walter S. Bigelow 26 June 1884 

Moses H. Bullard n Mar. 1886 

Gilbert H. Derby 29 Mar. 1895 

Discontinued 14 Oct. 1903 

List of Princeton Post Offices in the United States 



Princeton, Jackson Co 
Dallas 
Colusa 
Dade 
Latah 
Bureau 
Gibson 
Scott 
Franklin 
Caldwell 
Bossier 
Wash'gton 
Marquette 



Alabama Princeton, 

Arkansas " 

California " 
Florida 
Idaho 
Illinois 

Indiana " 

Iowa " 

Kansas " 

Kentucky " 

Louisiana " 
Maine 

Michigan " 



Millelaes 

Mercer 

Granite 

Lancaster 

Mercer 

Johnston 

Harney 

Lawrence 

Laurens 

Collin 

Mercer 

Green Lake 

Mercer 



Co. 



, Minnesota 
Missouri 
Montana 
Nebraska 
New Jersey 
N. Carolina 
Oregon 
Penn. 
S. Carolina 
Texas 
W. Virginia 
Wisconsin 
New Jersey 



Railroads. The population of the towns in the central 
and western parts of the State had rapidly increased. This, 
and the demands of trade, showed the necessity of better 
methods of travel and transportation and the matter had 
for several years attracted the attention of legislators and 
engineers. i\s early as 1825 a survey was made for a rail- 
road from Boston to Worcester and on to the Hudson. 

At first the project met with little favor with the people. 
The Boston Courier, indeed, under date of June 27, 1827, 
called it "a project which every one knows, who knows the 
simplest rule in arithmetic, to be impracticable, and at an 
expense little less than the market value of the whole terri- 
tory of Massachusetts: and which, if practicable, every 
person of commonsense knows, would be as useless as a 
railroad from Boston to the moon." 

The sentiment however gained strength and in 1828 the 
legislature of Massachusetts appointed a Board of Directors 
of Internal Improvements to report on the practicability 
and expediency of a Railroad from Boston to the Hudson 
River and from Boston to Providence. 



366 History of Princeton 

The Board reported Jan. 1829, in print, with a plan pre- 
pared by eminent engineers for several routes but the only 
one we are interested in followed the line afterwards selected 
by the Massachusetts Central as far as Holden, through 
Cambridge and Sudbury, and then evidently adopted part 
of the line used subsequently by the Boston, Barre & 
Gardner railroad, now the Peterboro Division of the Boston 
and Maine. This road entered Princeton's southerly bor- 
der, passing Mason's Mills and the Widow Woodward's 
place, which is noted on the plans as being the highest 
elevation of the survey. After passing the well-known 
Savage factory, the line ran on to Hubbardston and west- 
ward to where the present road runs. The report was 
voluminous and was accompanied with plans of the differ- 
ent routes surveyed and elaborate estimates of the cost of 
building and operating the road. Some particulars given 
in brief may be found of interest. 

It will surprise the reader of to-day to learn that this 
railroad was to be a horse railroad, like railroads already 
established in England, and in some respects the construc- 
tion was to follow the English model. It was proposed 
that a stone foundation be constructed on which should be 
laid rails of granite surmounted by a bar of iron. The 
motion on such a road, if level, would be easy and pleasant, 
and if the inclination did not exceed 26 feet per mile, 
there would be no serious obstacle from friction. // 
was also suggested that at different grades a flat car might 
be provided on which the horses could stand and feed during 
the descent, and thus be rested and refreshed for further 
labor. 

It was further suggested that stationary power might be 
used at the most difficult grades, provided a fall of water 
could be obtained to operate a wheel and an endless chain 
to draw the cars up the ascent, and let them down on the 
other side. 

The cost of transportation of merchandise, if the road 
be made with stationary powers is estimated at $25.50 for 
16 tons, twenty horses being required, but without station- 



Miscellany 367 

ary powers twenty-eight horses would be required and the 
expense would be $31.50 per 16 tons. 

The time in each case would be four days. If to these 
estimates be added a dollar a ton for tolls, it would give 
$2.59 and $2,97 per ton. A barrel of flour could be trans- 
ported for 26 or 30 cents. 

For the transportation of passengers by railroad greater 
speed is required than for merchandise and with stationary 
powers, 16 horses and one man would be required at a cost 
to the passenger of $2.82, or without stationary power, 22 
horses and two men at a cost to the passenger of $3.05 for 
conveyance from Boston to Albany in 22 hours. 

In regard to the use of steam which was having success 
in England, they report that the cost would be far greater 
in America than in England, coal for fuel, for instance, 
costing three times as much here as there. 

The cost of building the road from Boston to Albany is 
estimated at $3,254,876.46. There is no record of any 
action taken in reference to the matter by the Legislature 
and ere long the attention of the people being turned to 
the subject of steam railroads, the whole matter was 
dropped. 

There were at this time six lines of stage coaches, on all 
of which eighteen stages ran from Albany to Boston and 
returned weekly with passengers. 

The Boston & Lowell road was the first railroad upon 
which work was begun, and it was followed soon by the 
Worcester and Providence. 

The Boston & Worcester road was opened through to 
Worcester July 4, 1835, the others a few days earlier. 
The western railroad, a continuation of the Worcester road 
to Albany, was opened in Dec. 1861. 

The Barre & Worcester Road was chartered April 26, 
1847, an extension of time was granted and again in 1849, 
when the name was changed to Boston, Barre & Gardner. 

In 1 85 1 the time was again extended two years and the 
road released from its obligation to build the section 
leading to Barre. In 1853 and again in 1856, the time 



368 History of Princeton 

was extended and liberty granted to build it in sections, 
the first section to extend from Worcester to Princeton, 
the second from Princeton to Gardner and the third from 
Princeton to Barre. The road was completed to Gardner 
in 1 87 1, but the section from Princeton to Barre was not 
built. 

Telephone Service. The first telephone service installed 
at Princeton was a private line owned by P, A. Bcaman 
& Son and connecting the Wachusett House with Prince- 
ton Depot and the Wachusett Coach Line then owned by 
P. C. Doolittle. 

After two or three years 12 or 15 subscribers petitioned 
the New England Telephone & Telegraph Company for 
telephone service. This was granted and a central oftice 
was established at D. H. Gregory's store where it remained 
several years. 

It was finally removed to the Laundry Building at the 
Wachusett House, where it was irreparably damaged by 
fire and water, when the hotel was burned Nov. 28, 19 10. 
The central oftice has since been located at the residence 
of Mrs. Daniel Davis where excellent service has been 
given the subscribers who now number 90. 

Ice Business in Princeton. Previous to 1903 many of 
the residents in or near the Centre had stored their own 
supply of ice. In the summer of that year, Charles U. 
Hubbard began supplying 20 customers with ice from 
Echo Lake on the Mt. Wachusett State Reservation. 

The following season Mason Bros, purchased the busi- 
ness and it has developed so that at present (19 15) Harry 
A. Mason is supplying 90 customers at the Centre and 
East Princeton. 

Street Lighting. The first action taken by the Town 
in the matter of street lighting was at a meeting held 
April 6, 1903, when the Town voted "that the sum of $300 
be raised and appropriated for establishing and main- 
taining street lights in the residential districts of Prince- 
ton Centre and East Princeton." Arrangements were 
made with the Globe Gaslight Co. for a suitable outfit 




PRINCETON VILLAGE FROM THE EAST 




c:emetery and the old pound 



Miscellany 369 

and 70 lamps were provided for the streets near the Centre 
and 25 at East Princeton. Gasolene and kerosene were 
used with rather unsatisfactory results. 

The cost of maintenance steadily increased and the lights 
operated only part of the year. At a Town Meeting held 
April 3, 191 1, Dr. E. S. Lewis, J. D. Gregory and P. C. 
Doolittle were chosen to investigate Electrical Street 
Lighting and report at a future meeting. They reported 
unanimously in favor of such a system, and H. P. Houghton, 
J. B. Marcou and P. C. Doolittle were chosen a committee 
and given full power to make contracts. The matter of 
raising a sufficient amount of money to finance the project 
of municipal ownership of an electric lighting system was 
discussed at meetings held on various dates. It was 
finally decided favorably Sept. 14, 19 12, and the Town 
voted to raise $15,000 to install this system of street and 
commercial lighting. It has proved a success and 130 
street lights are maintained in different parts of the town. 
There are 56 customers for commercial current: the num- 
ber is yearly increasing. The current is purchased from 
the Gardner Electric Light Co. and is generated by the 
Connecticut River Transmission Co. at Vernon, Vt. 

CEMETERIES 

First Burial Ground. For several years after the in- 
corporation of the district, there was no public burying 
ground within its borders. A few of the earlier burials 
were made at Rutland, but probably most of the interments 
were made in some selected spot upon the farms, as was 
usually the custom in thinly settled communities. Even 
in later days, this plan was adopted by some families, to 
be followed by regrets in after years. The location of the 
meeting house upon the hill decided the location of the 
first burying ground, as the two were almost invariably 
side by side. 

In 1765 Hon. Moses Gill made a gift to the town of 20 
acres in the easterly third of lot Letter B for a burying 
ground and a common. This land was practically of little 



370 History of Princeton 

value but for a common, and the larger part of the tract 
served for that purpose, and In the absence of a better spot, 
for a training field in connection with the Mirick lot pre- 
viously given. 

Of this lot of twenty acres, about two and a half acres 
were set apart for a burying ground, to which an addition 
of about as much more was made in 1773. It was a very 
unfortunate selection for the purpose, not only on account 
of the rocks, but also and especially on account of the 
springy nature of the soil. Yet, notwithstanding the 
serious objections and often, at burials, the repellant con- 
dition of the ground, it was for some years the only public 
place for burial in the town. 

In some portions of this cemetery burials are still occa- 
sionally made, notwithstanding the establishment of other 
grounds; but a large number of removals have been made 
to the newer cemeteries named below. Here are some 
rude stones without inscription, but evidently placed to 
mark the graves of some of the first buried after the se- 
lection of the ground, and there are evidences of many 
graves over which no stones were ever placed. 

The town exercised reasonable care of the ground and 
at the time of its enlargement in 1773 ordered a stone wall 
five feet high to be built about it. But the work appears 
to have been delayed until 1779 when the order was re- 
newed with the specification that the wall was to be " faced 
upon the road " and two gates to be hung in the most con- 
venient place. 

In 181 8 the widow of Capt. John Dana was authorized 
to build a tomb in the south-west part of the ground, and 
similar permits were given to other persons in 1823 and 
1824, but the use of these tombs has long since been dis- 
continued except perhaps for temporary purposes. 

The West Ground. In 1794, a plot of about one half an 
acre of land in the west part of the town was given for a 
burying ground by Colonel John Jones, father of Captain 
John of Princeton. Although the gift was accepted, yet no 
use was apparently made of it then. In 1796 a committee 



Miscellany 371 

was appointed in town meeting to " consider about the 
plot given by Col. Jones." Mr. Richard Baxter, who 
lived near the spot opposite the present residence of Mr. 
Warren Bigelow, subsequently added about one half an 
acre, and a deed of the lot to the town in 18 12 was given 
by Adam Jones of Templeton, Isaac Chenery and Lemuel 
Fisk of Holden and Richard Baxter. This ground is known 
as the West ground. 

The North Burying Ground was the third established 
in the town. About one- third of an acre was purchased 
in 1826 of Stephen Mirick, to which was added a small 
lot secured from Phineas Gregory, This is on the lower 
Westminster road, near the corner of the Gregory road. 

The East Burying Ground, containing one and a quarter 
acres, was the gift of Deacon Ebenezer Parker in 183 1. It 
is located on the county road to Sterling, in the east part 
of the town, some distance north of the road; the town 
owning a right of way thereto of one rod in width from 
the county road. The burials here have been almost 
exclusively of families living in the easterly part of the 
town. 

The South Burying Ground, located at the junction 
of the road to Rutland via Brooks Station and the road 
from Holden to Hubbardston, was purchased by the town 
of John H. Brooks in 1848 and contains one acre and forty 
rods. 

The Parker Ground on the old East Princeton road was 
purchased by the town, of Ebenezer Parker in 1831. The 
burials here are mostly of those bearing the name of Parker. 

Woodlawn Cemetery was established in 1852, the neces- 
sity of a cemetery near the centre, on account of the 
condition of the old one on the hill, being acknowledged. 
The lot covers three-fourths of an acre and is located on 
the road to Rutland, a few rods south of Boylston Avenue. 
John Brooks was one of the chief promotors of this. 

Here are found the names of many of the prominent 
families of the town — Goodnow, Mirick, Dana, Brooks, 
Eveleth, Blake, Russell, etc. 



372 History of Princeton 

A monument erected by Dr. Alphonso Brooks, in his 
family lot, is the most massive and expensive of any in 
the town. 

The entrance to this cemetery has been greatly improved 
by the erection of an ornamental gateway by Mr, Thomas 
Allen who also purchased land entirely encircling the 
ground to prevent any encroachment upon it and to pro- 
vide for its possible extension in the future. 

DISTANCES FROM PRINCETON CENTRE 

To Sunset Rock ^ mile 

Mountain House Site 2\ 
Summit of Mountain by carriage 

road 5 

Summit of Wachusett by Mt. 

House trail 3 
Russell's Corner ^ 

Princeton Depot 2f 

Brooks Station 3 

East Princeton 3 

West Sterling 4 
Sterling Centre 7 

Hubbardston 8 

Rutland 7 

Fitchburg 1 1 
Westminster 7 

Leominster 10 

Lancaster 12 

Harvard 1 7 

Marlboro 25 
Holden 7 

Jefferson 6 

Worcester 1 5 

Barre 12 

Petersham 16 

Gardner 1 2 

Boston 45 



Miscellany 373 

Chair Manufacturing in Princeton. The earliest dates 
obtainable show that Benjamin Stuart and son Joseph of 
Sterling commenced making chairs in East Princeton in 
1841. They later took In partnership John H., doing 
business as B. Stuart & Sons. Some years later Joseph 
withdrew from the firm and removed to New York City, 
the firm at East Princeton changing to B. & J. H. Stuart. 
After the death of the father John H. continued the busi- 
ness until 1 89 1 when his son, Arthur L. Stuart, succeeded 
him. 

April I, 1904, the business was incorporated under the 
name of "The Temple-Stuart Co." and continued to make 
chairs and settees, with a much enlarged plant. The com- 
pany was burned out July 26, 1910, and the firm removed 
to Baldwinsville, Mass., in the autumn of that year. In 
1846 James Brown began the manufacture of chairs in 
East Princeton. 

In 1849 he took in partnership his brother William. The 
firm of J. & Wm. H. Brown continued in business until 
the shop was destroyed by fire in 1861. Wm. H. Brown 
rebuilt and carried on the business until his factory was 
burned in 1877. 

On Nov. 7, 1 88 1, Charles W. Reed and Foster E. Mat- 
thews bought the Mark Wilder mill at East Princeton and 
started making chairs. Shortly after John H. Temple 
bought Matthews' interest and the firm was known as 
Reed & Temple. In 1894 Mr. Temple bought Mr. Reed's 
interest and took in partnership Benjamin Stuart of New 
York City. 

The factory was enlarged by the addition of a boiler 
house and paint-shop where chairs were finished by dipping 
in large tanks filled with varnish, thus Inaugurating a new 
era in the finishing of chairs. 

The firm now took the name of Temple & Stuart. After 
the death of Mr. Stuart in 1896 John H. Temple continued 
manufacturing until his factory was burned In 1899. He 
then erected a large paint-shop and warehouse where he 
continued to finish chairs to the date of his death Feb. 22, 



374 History of Princeton 

1904. This plant was then occupied by the Temple- 
Stuart Co. until they removed to Baldwinsville. 

In 1880 Thurston and Eugene R. Buck bought the old 
Ephraim Wilder mill on the Princeton-Sterling road near 
the Sterling line. Here they began the making of chairs and 
chair stock. Their mill was destroyed by fire in June 1883, 
but they soon rebuilt under the firm name of T. & E. R. 
Buck. This firm have made extensive additions at different 
periods; the last in 1914 when they doubled their power 
plant by the installation of two 65 H.P. boilers and are 
now turning out nearly a thousand chairs daily with a 
capacity for a much larger output. 

Roper Lumber & Box Company. In 1751 Oliver Davis 
the fifth settler in Princeton located in the western part 
of the town, purchasing tracts of land in Princeton and 
Hubbardston. He soon erected a saw mill on West 
Wachusett brook near its intersection with the "Old 
Hubbardston Turnpike," one half mile above the present 
saw mill of the Roper's, Mr. Davis later in 1755 built 
the first grist mill in town. This was located on the site 
now occupied by the Roper Lumber & Box Co. In 1830 
this property was known as Fays Mills. Mr. Samuel 
Roper purchased the mill of H. O. Clark, a real estate 
broker, in 1856. In 1869 the firm was S. Roper & Sons. 
Mr. Roper carried on the business from 1 877-1 892, up to 
this date, sawing lumber and turning chair stock was the 
principal industry, although threshing grain was carried on 
a few years, and a grist mill has been maintained from the 
beginning. From 1892 to 1895 Mr. Roper had associated 
with him Mr. Lyman Partridge and they first made boxes 
at this time. Mr. Roper now took in partnership his two 
sons William M. Jr. and Eugene D. under the present firm 
name of Roper Lumber & Box Co. Besides the manu- 
facturing of boxes the firm does a general jobbing business. 

They own eleven tenements, control 1600 acres of timber 
land in Princeton, Rutland and Hubbardston and use a 
million feet of lumber annually. 



CHAPTER XV 



GLEANINGS 

Freemasonry reached its highest point in Princeton, early 
in the nineteenth century. Quite a number of Princeton 
men were associated with a lodge in Rutland. 

The first meeting of the James Thompson Lodge, A. F. & 
A. M., was held in Rutland, Mass., June 22, 1812. St. 
John's day was observed in Princeton in 18 13, when lodges 
from neighboring towns were invited to attend. 

April 2'], 1820, a petition from masons of Princeton, to 
remove Thompson Lodge to Princeton, was lost by vote of 
eleven in favor, twenty-three against. 

The last meeting of the Lodge was held in December, 
1826. Rev. Samuel Clarke was High Priest of Thomas 
Royal Arch Chapter of Princeton, and there are several 
of his printed addresses in the Princeton library. 



Hez'k F. Stone 


Master 


William H. Foster 


Sr. Dea. 


Thos. Read 


Sr. 


W. 


Calvin Stone 


Jr. Dea. 


Benj. Eustis 


Jr. 


W. 


Daniel Read 


Sr. Steward 


Benj. Putnam 


Sec 


:'y 


Luke Robinson 


Jr. Steward 


Lockhart Smith 


Treas. 


Samuel Hooker 


Tyler 








Members 




Moses White 






Jonathan Flagg, Jr 




Jonas Horn 






Oreb Brigham 




Andrew Smith 






Joseph Read 




Jon. Howe 






Dan'l Desmond, Jr 




Rufus Putnam 






Thomas Gross 




Daniel King 






Martin Brooks 




Samuel Wade 






Asa Stone 




Isaac Davis 






John G. Davis 




Jas. Smith, 2nd. 






Garey Read 




Jas. McFarland 






Noah Wendell 




Joseph King 






Asa Desmond 




Taylor Esterbrook 






EH Smith 





375 



376 



History of Princeton 



Knight Whittemore 
William Hubbard 
John Whitney 
Samuel H. Robinson 
Reuben Brooks 
Jason Mann 
John P. Maynard 
Adonijah Howe 
Charles Thing 
Roland Wheeler 
Amos Rogers 
Moses Gill 
Seth Caldwell 
Jacob W. Watson 
Benjamin Davis 
Samuel Randall 



Reuben T. Robinson 
John T. Smith 
Amasa Boyden 
Eben. Knight 
William Mead 
Moses G. Cheever 
Calvin B. Davis 
Elisha Cheney 
Cyrus O. Dryden 
John Stone, Jr. 
Charles B. Haynes 
Moses Hobbs 
Lawrence Mirick 
Charles Russell 
Isaac Thompson 
Harlow Skinner 



Thomas Chapter of Royal Arch Masons (named in 
honor of Isaiah Thomas, the patriot printer) of Worcester, 
was instituted at Princeton, Dec. ii, 1821. The charter 
members were, — 



Rev. Samuel Clarke. 


Clark Mirick 


Timothy Whitney 


William Howe 


Moses Thomas. 


John G. Davis 


Hezekiah F. Stone. 


Luke Eastman 


Johnathan Bailey 


John Whitney 


Nahum Rice. 


Merrill Davis 


Charles Russell. 


Isaac Bassctt, Jr 


principal Officers 


at first were, — 


Rev. Samuel Clarke 


High Priest 


Timothy Whitney 


King 


INIoses Thomas 


Scribe 


Hezekiah Stone 


Treasurer 


Luke Eastman 


Secretary 



The first regidar convocation of Thomas Royal Arch 
Chapter was held at the hall of Peter Richardson, Jr., in 
Princeton on January 2, a.d. 1822. The first three candi- 
dates exalted were Joel Pratt, Alexander Dustin, and John 
D. Pratt. Rev. Samuel Clarke the first High Priest held 
that office 1823-24, John G. Davis, 1825-27; Charles 



Gleanings t,77 

Russell, 1828-30; Rev. Samuel Clark, 1831; D. Wilder, 
1847; John D. Pratt, 1848. 

The members resided in or near the town of Princeton. 
After twenty-five years in Princeton the Chapter was 
transferred to Fitchburg. The first meeting in Fitchburg 
was held at Freemason's Hall, Dec. 21, 1847. 

While the Chapter was located at Princeton I do not 
think the number of members ever exceeded forty. 

In the early days of the Lodge at Princeton meetings 
were held at private houses. It is authentically recorded 
that when meetings were held at the house later owned 
by Calvin Davis (which stood in front of the present 
blacksmith shop of Dr. Stimson) the wife of one of the 
members desired some light on the secret workings of the 
Order and so bored a small hole in the plastered ceiling of 
the chamber where meetings were held. The white mortar 
on the floor betrayed the fateful point of observation. 
It is also related that once when the Masons met at the 
tavern of Peter Richardson, now the Grimes house, Mrs. 
Richardson rapped at the door saying she had occasion for 
her grid-iron if the meeting was not using it. The later 
meetings of the Lodge were held in the hall above Folger's 
store, now the mansion of the late T. H. Russell. 

The Good Templars organized a Lodge in 1866. This 
temperance movement was quite popular at this time and 
this Lodge had a membership of 40 or more. The meet- 
ings were held in Beaman's Hall and continued for some 
years. J. T. Everett was foremost in this work. Perhaps 
something was done in the Washingtonian movement in 
the early forties. 

The Ancient Order of United Workmen. This is a 
fraternal beneficiary order granting financial protection at 
cost to the beneficiaries of its deceased members in various 
sums up to $2000. 

It embraces the Lodge form of government: and a 
subordinate lodge was instituted June 12, 1890 with 
19 Charter members. 

Prentice C. Doolittle was the first Master Workman, 



37^ History of Princeton 

J. C. F. Mirick, Recording Secretary and William S. 
Brooks, Financial Secretary. During the quarter of a 
century this Lodge has been in existence 131 men have 
joined the Order here; $26,000 has been paid to the families 
of 13 deceased brothers. For 2^ years the meetings were 
held in Bagg Hall. Since that time meetings are held the 
2d and 4th Monday evenings of each month in A.O.U.W. 
Hall owned by Prentice C. Doolittle. 

The Washington Benevolent Society in 18 13 of Prince- 
ton and Westminster was formed. The object being the 
study and cultivation of the virtues of George Washington. 
The duration of this organization is unknown. 

The Princeton Dramatic Club flourished from 1876 to 
1883. Several good amateur plays were produced and 
some stage property acquired which was destroyed at the 
burning of Boylston Hall. 

A Lyceum was the outgrowth of a series of debates held 
in a modest way at the school house near Russell's Corner 
in the winter of 1873-74. Meetings were held during the 
winter months of the succeeding five years at Boylston 
Hall and much good was accomplished in giving the young 
people confidence in public speaking. 

At a meeting of two factions of the Farmers' and Me- 
chanics' Association in January, 1887, the original club 
voted to disband, and to deposit the funds remaining in 
the hands of the newly formed association. Worcester Spy. 

Princeton Club. This social organization was started 
Jan. 18, 191 3. The early meetings were held in Bagg 
Hall. The Club was incorporated March 8, 1913. The 
question of more suitable quarters was discussed and the 
A. A. Pratt residence (formerly the Solon S. Hastings 
house) was leased of the Pratt family. 

In many respects this proved an ideal home for the 
Club. There were 48 Charter members, many of whom 
belonged to the Summer Colony. 

Many instructive lectures and informal talks have been 
given under the auspices of the Club. The present officers 
are Henry C. Delano, President, Harvey D. Crosby, 



Gleanings 379 

Sec, and John Perkins, Treas. The present membership 
is 64. 

Princeton Farmer's Club. Probably no local organiza- 
tion in Princeton ever exerted a better or wider influence 
in social and agricultural interests than the "Princeton 
Farmer's Club" during the 46 years of its existence. 

From its inception it had the support of all the progres- 
sive citizens of the town. Its annual suppers were looked 
upon as the social event of the year and its influence in 
promoting improved methods of farming and stock rais- 
ing were most beneficial. 

Lectures and agricultural talks were given and Cattle 
Shows held yearly under its auspices. The first meeting 
of this organization, when a constitution was adopted, 
was held Feb. 6, i860. 

Dea. Henry Boyles, President. 
Albert C. Howe, Vice-President. 
Edward E. Hartwell, Secretary. 
George E. Pratt, Treasurer. 

For the first few months meetings were held weekly and 
various topics of interest to farmers were discussed. 

At the first annual meeting held Dec. 31, i860, J. Edwin 
Merriam was chosen secretary and held this office 22 years 
during the existence of the Club. In 1882 the name of 
the Club was changed to The Princeton Farmer's and 
Mechanic's Association and a younger element came into 
control. 

In 1883 the Association suffered a severe loss in the de- 
struction of its cattle, sheep and hog pens in connection 
with the burning of Boylston Hall. In 1896 the Associ- 
ation voted to dissolve and turn over to the Town $200 
of its funds in trust, the income to be paid to the Park 
Commissioners for the care of Goodnow Park. 

This seemed a fitting act for an organization which had 
done much for the civic and agricultural welfare of the 
community. 



380 History of Princeton 

Princeton Grange No. 74, Patrons of Husbandry was 

organized with 39 charter members on Feb. 6, 1875. 
Within a short period the Grange became dormant and 
so remained until April 28, 1909, when a reorganization 
took place with 31 charter members. Since then the 
membership has increased until on Jan. i, 1915, it was 201. 

The past masters are Isaac F. Thompson (deceased) 
Arthur E. Hutchinson, Fred P. Hall, Justin M. Clark, 
Raymond J. Gregory. The present master is Edward W. 
Brunsen. 

Sanatorium. In the Spring of 19 14 the idea was con- 
ceived of building a house, on the Brooks lot, just south 
of the Parsonage, to contain various appliances for Hydro- 
theropeutical and Electrical treatments. A year was 
consumed in the construction and special equipment of 
the structure, which now contains all the necessary arrange- 
ments to simulate the well known baths of Spa, Belgium, 
Wiesbaden, Baden Baden and Nauheim, Germany, as well 
as the Waffles high frequency violet ray electrical treat- 
ment. 

FLORA OF PRINCETON 

By Mary H. Gregory 

April Flowers 

Skunk Cabbage Symplocarpiis fcetidus 

Beaked Hazel Corylus rostrata 

Common Hazel Corylus A mericana 

Trailing Arbutus Epigcea repens 

American Elm Ulmus Americana 

American Poplar Populus tremuloides 

Speckled Alder Alnus incana 

Red Maple Acer rubrum 

Innocence Houstonia ccerulea 

Everlasting Antennaria plantaginifolia 

Bloodroot Sanguinaria Canadensis 

Hepatica Hepatica triloba 

Pussy Willow Salix discolor 

Sweet Gale Myrica Gale 

Saxifrage Saxifraga Virginiensis 

Anemone Anemone nemorosa 

Spice Bush Lindera Benzoin 



Gleanings 381 

Round-leaved Violet Viola-rotundijolia 

Leatherwood Dirca palustris 

Chick weed Stellaria media 

Dog's-tooth Violet Erythronium Americanum 

Large-toothed Poplar Popidus grandidentata 

Arrow-leaved Violet Viola sagitlata 

JVIay Flowers 

Golden Saxifrage Clirysosplenium Americanum 

Dandelion Taxaxacum officinale 

Dog Violet Viola canina 

Shepherd's Purse Capsella Bursa-pastoris 

Strawberry Fragaria Virginiana 

Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastiiim vidgatum 

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustri 

Sweet Fern Myrica asplenifolia 

Cinque-foil Potcntilla Canadensis 

Sweet White Violet Viola hlanda 

Ground-nut Aralia trifolia 

Rue Anemone A ncmonclla thalictr aides 

Blue Violet Viola palmata 

Purple Trillium Trillium erectum 

WUd Oats Oakesia sessilifolia 

Leather-leaf Cassandra calyculata 

Bear-berry Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi 

Pappoose-root Canlophyllum Ihalictroides 

Wild Ginger Asariim Canadense 

Small-flowered Buttercup Ranunculiim ahortirus 

Sugar Maple Acer saccharinum 

Low Blueberry Vaccinium vacillans 

Wild Columbine Aquilegia Canadensis 

Shad-bush Amelanchier Canadensis 

Downy Yellow Violet Viola pubescens 

Jack-in-the-pulpit Ariscema triphyllum 

Swamp Blueberry Vaccinium corymhosum 

Dwarf Blueberry Vaccinium Pennslyvanicum 

Thyme-leaved Speedwell Veronica serpyllijolia 

Red Baneberry Aetata rubra 

Toothroot Dentaria dcphylla 

TuUp Tree Liriodendron Tulipifera 

Cucumber Tree Magnolia acuminata 

Rock Cress Arabis la;rigala 

Hawthorne Crataegus coccinea 

Canada Mayflower Mianthemum canadense 



382 History of Princeton 

Small Solomon Seal Polygonatuni beblorum 

Great Solomon Seal Polygonatuni cutnniutatum 

White Willow Salica Alba 

Balm of Gilead Popiiliis candicans 

Black Walnut Carya nigra 

Coltsfoot Tussilago Farfara 

Wood Betony Pedecularis canadencis 

Black Walnut Carya nigra 

Sandwort Arenaria latuiflora 

Field Mouse-ear Chickweed Ccrastnim arvense 

Velvet Leaf Abutdon Throphrasti 

Moss Pink Phlox subutata 

Painted Trillium Trillium erythrocarpum 

Three-leaved Goldthread Coplis trifolia 

Early Meadow Rue Thalictrum dioicum 

Common Buttercup Ranunculus bulbosus 

Field Sorrel Rumex Acetosella 

Meadow Parsnip Thaspium aureum 

Lance-leaved Violet Viola lanceolata 

Gooseberry Ribes oxyacanthoides 

Fringed Polygala Polygala pancifolia 

Wake Robin Trillium cernuum 

Twisted Stalk Sireptopus roseus 

Hobblebush Viburnum lantanoides 

American Hornbeam Carpinus Caroliniana 

American Hop Hornbeam Ostrya Virginica 

Rhodora Rhododendron Rhodora 

Red-berried Elder Sambuscus racemosa 

Gray Birch Betuta popidijolia 

Robin's Plantain Erigeron bcllidifolius 

Bellwort Urularia perjoliata 

Wild Red Cherry Prunus Pcnnsyhanica 

Swamp Saxifrage Saxifraga Pcnnsyhanica 

Spurge Euphorbia Cyparissias 

Celandine Chelidonium majus 

Red Oak Qucrcus rubra 

White Ash Fraxinus Americana 

Wild Sarsaparilla Aralia medicaulis 

Wild Cranesbill Geranium maculatum 

White Baneberry Actcea alba 

False Spikenard Smilacina racemosa 

Striped Maple Acer Pennsylvanicum 

Sassafras Sassafras officinale 

Hooked Crowfoot Ranunculus recurvatus 

American Larch Larix Americana 



Gleanings 383 

Star of Bethlehem Ornithogalum umbellatum 

Horseradish Nasturtium Armoracia 

Black Birch Betida lenta 

Yellow Birch Betula lutea 

Paper Birch Betula papyrifera 

Coral-root Corallorhiza innata 

Spring Beauty Claylonia Caroliniana 

Black Ash Fraxinus sambiicifolia 

Fetid Currant Ribes prostratum 

Mitrewort Mitella diphylla 

False Mitrewort Tiarella cordifolia 

Andromeda Andromeda polifolia 

Pale Laurel Kalmia glauca 

Buckbean Menyatithes trifoliata 

Labrador Tea Lidum latifolium 

Wild Black Currant Ribes floridum 

American Birch Fagus ferruginea 

June Flowees 

Ground Ivy Nepda Glechoma 

Fly Honeysuckle Lonicera ciliata 

Mountain Holly Nemopanfkes fascictdaris 

Creeping Snowberry Cheogenes serpyllijolia 

Dwarf Raspberry Rubus triflorus 

Squaw-weed Senecio aureus 

Blue-eyed Grass Sisyrinchium anceps 

Star-flower Trientalis A mericana 

Clintonia Clintonia borealis 

Bastard Toad-flax Comandra umbellata 

Star Grass Hypoxis crecta 

Choke-berry Pyrus arbutifolia 

Choke-cherry Primus Virginiana 

Tall Buttercup Ranuncidus acris 

Caraway Carum Carui 

Sand-Spurrey Buda rubra 

Huckle-berry Gaylussacia resinosa 

White Thorn Cratagus coccinea 

Low Blackberry Rubus Canadensis 

Red Raspberry Rubus strigosus 

One-flowered Cancer-root Aphyllon unijlorum 

Common Barberry Berberis vulgaris 

Stemless Lady's Slipper Crypripedium acaule 

Swamp Pink Rhododendron nudifiorum 

Silvery Cinquefoil Potentilla argentea 



384 History of Princeton 

White Oak Quercus alba 

Black Mustard Brassica nigra 

Butternut Juglans cinerea 

White Clover Trifoliiim repens 

Red Clover Trifolium pratense 

Wild Lupine Lupinus perennis 

Bunchberry Cornus Canadensis 

Common Mallow Malva rotund if olia 

Common Yarrow Achillea Millefolium 

Shag-bark Hickory Carya alba 

Water Cress Nastutium officinale 

Wild black Cherry Primus serotina 

High Blackberry Rubus villosus 

Black Raspberry Rubus occidentalis 

Blue Flag Iris versicolor 

Scrub Oak Quercus ilicifolia 

Purple Avens Geuni rivale 

Cornel Cornus alternifolia 

Indian Poke Veratrum viride 

Ox-eye Daisy Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum 

Pogonia Pogonia ophioglossus 

Arethusa Arethusa bulbosa 

Carrion Flower Smilax herbacea 

Poison Ivy Rhus Toxicodendron 

Habenaria Habenaria Eookeri 

Bittersweet Solanum Dulcamara 

Bayberry Myrica cerifera 

Pale Corydalis Corydalis geniculatus 

Tupelo Nyssa sylvatica 

Arrow-wood Viburnum acerifoluim 

Indian Cucumber-root Medeola Virginiana 

Water Starwort Callitriche verna 

Mountain Laurel Kalmia latifolia 

Cow-parsnip Heracleum lanatum 

Sweet-scented Bedstraw Galium triflorum 

Frost-weed Helianthemum Canadense 

Withe-rod Viburnum cassinoides 

Curled Dock Rumex crispus 

Wild Peppergrass Lepidium Virginicum 

Bladder Campion Silene Cucubalus 

Yellow Clover Trifolium agrarium 

Sheep Laurel Kalmia augustifolia 

Avens Geum Virginianum 

Rattlesnake-weed Hieracium venocum 

Pitcher-plant Sarracenia purpurea 



Gleanings 385 

Cow-wheat Melampyrum Americanum 

Evening Primrose Ornothera pumila 

Self-heal Brunclla vulgaris 

Small Bedstraw Galium trifidum 

Daisy Fleabane Erigeron annuus 

Lobelia Lobelia spicata 

Angelica A ngelica atro purpurea 

Long-leaved Stitchwort Stellar ia longi folia 

Loosestrife Lysimachia quadrifolia 

Arrow-leaved Tear-thvimb Polygonum sagittatum 

Climbing Bittersweet Cetastrus scandans 

Bush Honeysuckle Dicrvilla trijida 

Mountain Maple Acer spicatum 

Pignut Hickory Carya porcina 

Dogbane Apocynum androscemifolium 

Northern Fox Grape Vitis Labrusca 

Tall Meadow Rue Thalictrum polygamum 

White Pine Pinus Strobus 

Wild Radish Raphanus Raphanistrum 

Forget-me-not Myosotis laxa 

Arrow-wood Viburnum dentatum 

Fringed Orchis Habenaria fimbriata 

Wood-sorrel Oxalis corniculata 

St. John's-wort Hypericum f erf or atum 

Hairy Hawkweed Hieracium Growosii 

Panicled Cornel Cornus paniculata 

Corn-flower Rudbcckia hirta 

Black Alder Ilex verticillata 

Common Greenbrier Smilax rotundefolia 

Round-leaved Cornel Cornus circinata 

Small Cranberry Vaccinium Oxycoccus 

Milkweed Ascelpias quadrifolia 

False Solomon's Seal Smilacina trifolia 

Alfalfa Medicago saliva 

Beard-tongue Penstemon pubescens 

Three-toothed Cinquefoil Potcntella trienlata 

One-flowered Pyrola Moneses grandiflora 

Moimtain Ash Pyrus Americana 

Swamp Dock Rumex verticillatus 

Chickweed Cerastium viscocum 

Nightshade Solanum nigrum 

Jamestown weed Datura Stramonium 

Water Arvmi Calla palustris 

Golden Club Cronlium aquaticum 

Cinnamon Rose Rosa cinnamonea 



3^6 History of Princeton 

Swamp Rose Rosa carolitta 

Pasture Rose Rosa humilis 

Dog Rose Rosa canine 

Alsike Clover Trifolium Hyhridum 

Common Locust Robinia Pseudoacasia 

Clammy Locust Robinia viscosa 

Tree of Heaven Pielea ailanthus 

Sundrops (Enothera pumila 

Sarsaparilla Aralia hispida 

Sweet Cicely Osmorkiza longistylis 

Sweetbrier Rose Rosa rubiginosa 

July Flowers 

Meadow Sweet Spiraea salicifolia 

Poison Dogwood Rhus venenata 

Swamp Blackberry Riibus hispidns 

Common Elder Sanihucus Canadensis 

Silky Cornel Cornus sericea 

Calopogon Calopogan pulchcllus 

Parsnip Pastinaca saiira 

Common Milkweed Asclipias Carnuti 

Poke Milkweed Asclepias phytolaccoides 

May-weed Anthemis Cotida 

Motherwort Leonurus Cardiaca 

Mullein Verbascum Thapsus 

Evening Primrose (Enothera biennis 

Fall Dandelion Leontodon auiumnalis 

Willowherb Epilobium angustijolium 

Cat-tail Typha latijolia 

Chicory Cichorium Intybus 

Staghorn Sumach Rhus typhina 

Cranberry Vaccinium macrocarpon 

Shin-leaf Pyrola elUptica 

Enchanter's Nightshade Circaea alpina 

Night-flowering Campion Silene noctiflora 

Dwarf Dandelion Krigia Virginica 

Wild Liquorice Galium circaezaus 

Wintergreen Pyroia secunda 

Wintergreen Pyrola rotundiflora 

Partridge-berry MitcheUa repeus 

Water Pennywort Hydrocotyle Americana 

Rabbit-foot Clover Trifolium arvense 

Butter and Eggs Linaria vulgaris 

Purslane Portulaca oleracea 



Gleanings 3^7 

Common rianlain Planiago major 

While Azalea Rhododendron viscosum 

Orange-red Lily Lilium Philadelphicum 

Wild Carrot Daucus Carota 

Canada Thistle Cirsium arvensis 

New Jersey Tea Ceanothus Americanus 

Skullcap Scutillaria galericulata 

Anemone Anemone Virginiana 

White-topped Aster Sericocarpus conyzoides 

Wild Yellow Lily Lilium Canadense 

Smooth Sumach Kims glahra^ 

|vjgtl-lg Urtica gracilis 

Water Lily Nymphaea odorala 

Checkerberry Gaultheria procumbens 

Chestnut Castanea saliva 

Adder's Mouth Microstylis ophioglossoides 

Polygala Polygala pdygama 

Polygala Polygala sanguinea 

(-j^^j^jp Nepcta Cataria 

Pigweed Chenopodium album 

Wild Lettuce Lactuca Canadensis 

Pickerel-weed Pontederia cordata 

Sundew Drosera rotundifolia 

White Vervain Verbena urticaejolia 

Blue Vervain Verbena hastata 

Fringed Orchis Habenaria laccra 

Touch-me-not Impaticns fulva 

Virginia Creeper Ampdopsis quinquefoha 

Monkey-flower Mimulus ringens 

St. John's-wort Hypericum ellipticum 

Bladderwort Utricidaria vulgaris^ 

Agrimony Agrimonia Eupatoria 

Wild Indigo Bapiisia tinctoria 

Soapwort Soponaria officinalis 

Hardhack Spircea tomentosa 

Lopseed Pf^^y"''^ Leptoslachya 

Elecampane ^«"^« Hclenium 

'pj^-gl_jg Cniciis lanceolatus 

Virgin's Bower Clematis Virginiana 

Pepsissewa Chimaphila umbellaia 

Water Horehound Lycopus sessilijohus 

Qjnseng Aralia quinqiiejolia 

Wood Nettle Laportia Canadensis 

St. John's-wort Hypericum mutilum 

Pipewort Eriocaulon articulalum 



3^8 History of Princeton 

Buttonbush Ccphalanthus occidentalis 

Basswood Tilia Americana 

Knotweed Polygonum aviculare 

Tick-trefoil Desmodium Canadense 

Indian Pipe Mouotiopa unijlora 

Watershield Brasenia pellata 

Arrow Arum Peltandra undidata 

Common Hop Humidus Lupidus 

Rattlesnake Plantain Goodycra re pens 

Sweet Flag Acorus Calamus 

Frost Grape Vitis cordifolia 

Common Speedwell Veronica officinalis 

Purple Flowering Raspberry Rubus odoratus 

Herb Robert Geranium Robertianum 

Burdock Actuim Lappa 

Ironweed Vernonia Noveboracensis 

Hedge Birdweed Convolvidus sepium 

Sunflower Helianthus strumosus 

Downy False Foxglove Gerardia flava 

Horseweed Erigeron Canadensis 

Water-plantain Alisma Plantago 

Orange-grass Hypericum nudicaule 

Joe Pye Weed Eupatoruim purpureum 

Thoroughwort Eupatoruim pcrfol latum 

Tansy Tanacetum vulgare 

Dwarf Sumach Rhus copallina 

Smartweed Polygonum Hydro piper 

Dodder Cuscuta Gronovii 

Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis 

Marsh St. John's- wort Elodes campanulata 

Everlasting Gnaphalium polycephalum 

Spearmint Mentha viridis 

Wild Bean Pheseolus polystachyus 

Mallow Malva sylvestris 

Sundrops (Enothera fruticosa 

Floating Heart Nymphoidis lacunosum 

Shrubby Cinquefoil Potentilla fruticosa 

Dyers' Greenweed Genista tinctoria 

Sweet Clover Melilotus Alba 

Vetch Vicia saliva 

Dalabarda repens Dalabarda repens 

Bur Marigold Bidens cernua 

Pasture Thistle Cirsium pumilum 

Bittersweet Solanum Dulsaneara 

Figwort Scrophularia marilaudica 



Gleanings 389 

Pearlwort Sagina procumbens 

White Campion Lychnis alba 

Cow Lily Nymphcca advena 

Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repens 

Water Plantain Spearmint Ranunculus alismcejolium 

Buckwheat Fagopyruma esculentmn 

Forked Chickweed Anychia Canadensis 

Bur-reed Sparganium simplex 

August Flowers 

Golden-rod Solidago nemoralis 

St. John's-wort Hypericum Canadense 

Indian Tobacco Lobelia inflata 

Mad-dog ScuUcap Scutellaria lateriflora 

Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis viargarctacea 

Sweet Pepperbush Clethra alnijolia 

Roman Wormwood Ambrosia artemisiafolia 

Hedge Hyssop Gratiola aurea 

Aster Aster umbellatus 

Sunflower Helianthus divaricatus 

Golden-rod Solidago lanccolata 

Ladies Tresses Spiranthes gracilis 

Bush Clover Lespedeza capitata 

Pennyroyal Hedeonea pelegioides 

Hawkweed Hieracium scabrum 

Purple Gerardia Gerard ia purpurea 

Halberd-leaved Tear-thumb Polygonum arifolium 

Blue Curls Trichostema dichotomum 

Hog Peanut Amphicarpcea monoica 

Spikenard Aralia racemosa 

Willow-herb Epilobium coloratum 

Golden-rod Solidago riigosa 

Snake-head Chelone glabra 

Fringed Orchis Habenaria psycodes 

Live-for-cvcr Sedum Telepliium 

Low Cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosum 

Smooth False Foxglove Gerardia quercifolia 

Swamp Loosestrife Decodon verticillatus 

Aster Aster Novi-Belgii 

White Snakeroot Eupatorium ageratoides 

Tick-trefoil Desmonium nudiflorum 

Ladies Tresses Spiranthes prcecox 

Low Hop Clover Trifolium procumbens 

Water Parsnip Slum Carsonii 



390 History of Princeton 

Bush Clover Sespedeza procumhens 

Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera repens 

Coral Root Corallorhiza multiflora 

Arrow-head Sagdtaria latifolia 

Day Flower Commclina communis 

Clknbing False Buckwheat Polygonium scandeus 

Wild Water Pepper Polygonum Hydropeperoides 

Pigweed A ^naranthus rctrojlexus 

Pigeon Berry Phytolacca decandra 

Corn Spurrey Spergula arveusis 

Fleabane Erigeron ramosus 

Water Marigold Connata Beckii 

Wormwood Artemesia absenthium 

Wild Bergamot Monarda fistulosa 

Corn Mint Mentha arvensis 

Slender Gerardia Gerardia temiijolia 

Water Hemlock Cicuta maculata 

Swamp Milkweed Asclipias incarnata 

Bastard Pennyroyal Trichostema dichotomum 

Sundrop (Enothera biennis 

September Flowers 

Common Beggar-ticks Biden Jrondosa 

Aster Aster linariifolius 

Pine Sap Monotropa Hypopitys 

Golden-rod Solidago Canadensis 

Ladies Tresses Spiranthes cernua 

Closed Gentian Gentiana Andrewsii 

Sweet Golden-rod Solidago odora 

Golden-rod Solidago caesia 

Aster Aster acuminatiis 

Bugleweed Lycopus Virginiciis 

Peppermmt Mentha piperita 

Golden-rod Solidago latifolia 

Hawkweed Hieracinm Canadense 

Ground Cherry Physalis Virginiana 

Sow Thistle Sonchus olcraceus 

Polygala Poly gala verticillata 

Fireweed Erechtites hieracifolia 

Ladies Tresses Spiranthes Romanzojiana 

Ground nut Apios tuberosa 

Aster Aster panicutatus 

Aster Aster longifolius 

Lion's foot Prenanthes serpentaria 



Gleanings 391 

October Flowers 

Fringed Gentian Genliana crinita 

Witch Hazel Hamamelis Virginiana 

Ferns 

Polypody Poly podium vulgar e 

Beech fern Phegoptcris poly pod lodes 

Maiden Hair Adiantum pedatum 

Brake Pteris aquilina 

(Spleen wort) Lady Fern Asplenium Filix-femina 

Ebony Spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron 

Silvery Spleenwort Asplenium acrostichoides 

Marsh Fern A spidium Thely pteris 

Massachusetts Fern A spidium simulatum 

N. Y. Fern Aspidium Noveboracense 

Marginal Fern Aspidium Marginale 

Crested Shield Fern Aspidium cristalum 

Clinton Wood Fern Aspidium Clintoianum 

Spinulose Wood Fern Aspidium spinulosum 

Bladder Fern Cystopteris fragilis 

Rusty Woodsia Woodsia ilvensis 

Hay-scented Fern Dicksonia punctilohula 

Sensitive Fern Onoclea sensibilis 

Ostrich Fern Onoclea Struthio pteris 

Royal Fern Osmunda regalis 

Interrupted Fern Osmunda Claytoniana 

Cinnamon Fern Osmu7ida cinnamona 

Adder's Tongue Ophioglossum vulgatum 

Botrychium Botrychium ramosum 

Rattlesnake Fern Botrychium virginianum 

Botrychium Botrychium obliquum 

Common Horse Tail Fern Equisetum arvense 

Running Evergreen Lycopodium Selago 

Evergreen Lycopodium complanatum 

Evergreen Lycopodium obscurum dendroi- 

deum 
Evergreen Lycopodium clavatum 



392 History of Princeton 

BIRDS OF PRINCETON 

A list of birds of the Town of Princeton seen by Ray- 
mond J. Gregory. For convenience these abbreviations 
are used : — 

c, Common S.R., Summer Resident 

P.R., Permanent Resident i, Irregular 

W.V., Winter Visitor ( ) = read "formerly" 

u, Uncommon a, Autumn 

T.V., Transient Visitor s, Spring 

A, Abundant x, Casual or accidental occurrence 

R, Rare 

2. Holbcells Grebe, x.u.T.v Colymhiis holbcelHi 

7. Loon, s.R Gavia immcr 

51. Herring Gull, x Lariis argentatus 

129. American Merganser, s.T.v Mergus americanus 

131. Hooded Merganser, s.T.v Lophodytes cuciillatus 

132. Mallard, s.T.v Anas platyrhynchos 

133. Black Duck, c. s.T.v., possibly a r.s.r. Anas rubrlpcs 
144. Wood Duck, R.S.R Aix sponsa 

i-]2. Canada Goose, c.t.v Branta canadensis canadensis 

190. American Bittern, c.s.R Botaunis Icntiginosus 

191. Least Bittern, r.s.r Ixohrychus exilis 

194. Great Blue Heron, c.t.v., possibly s.^.Ardea herodias herodias 

201. Little Green Heron, c.s.r Biitorides viresccns virescens 

202. Black-crowned Night Heron, u.s.R. . .Nycticorax nycticorax nccvins 
228. Woodcock, u.T.v Philohela ?niiior 

230. Wilson's Snipe, u.T.v Gallinago delicata 

240. White-rumped Sandpiper, u.T.v Pisobia fuscicollis 

261. Upland Plover (c.t.v.) r.t.v Bartramia longicaiida 

263. Spotted Sandpiper, c.s.R Actitis macularia 

273. Killdeer, t.v Oxyechus vocifcnis vociferus 

289. Bob White, u.p.r. ( ) common Colinus virginianus virginianus 

300. Ruffed Grouse, c.p.r Bonasa umbcUus umbellus 

Ring-necked Pheasant, c.p.r Phasianus torquatus 

315. Passenger Pigeon, ( ) abundant, now 

extinct Ectopistes migratorius 

331. Marsh Hawk, c.s.r Circus hiidsonius 

332. Sharp-shinned Hawk, c.s.r Accipite/ velox 

m- Cooper's Hawk, c.s.r Accipiter coopcri 

334. American Goshawk, c.w.v Astur atricapillus atricapillus 

339. Red-shouldered Hawk, c.s.r Buteo lineatiis lincatus 

343. Broad-winged Hawk, u.t.v Buteo platyptcrus platypterus 



Gleanings 393 

352. Bald Eagle, x., one seen on Wachu- 

sett Mt., 1912 Ilaliaetus leucocephalus leuco- 

cephaliis 

357. Pigeon Hawk, c.s.r Falco coliimbarius columbarius 

360. Sparrow-hawk, c.s.r Falco sparverius sparverius 

364. Osprey, u.t.v Pandion haliaelus carolinensis 

366. Long-eared Owl, r.p.r Asio wilsonianus 

367. Short-eared Owl, r.p.r Asio JIammcus 

368. Barred Owl, u.p.r Sirix varia varia 

371. Richardson's Owl, r.w.v Cryptoglaux funerea richardsoni 

372. Saw-whet Owl, r.w.v Cryptoglaux acadlca acadka 

373. Screech Owl, c.p.r Ottis asio asio 

375. Great Horned Owl, u.p.r Bubo virginianus virginianus 

376. Snowy Owl, x., one seen winter of 

1913-14 Nyctea nyctea 

387. Yellow-billed Cuckoo, u.s.r Coccyzus aniericanus americanus 

388. Black-billed Cuckoo, c.s.r Coccyzus erythrophthabnus 

390, Belted Kingfisher, c.s.r Ceryle alcyon 

393. Hairy Woodpecker, c.p.r Dryobates villosus villosus 

394. Downy Woodpecker, c.p.r Dryobates pubescens medianus 

401. American three-toed Woodpecker, X. . Pfc<?/Je5 americanus americanus 

402. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, u.t.v Sphyrapicus varius varius 

405. Pileated Woodpecker, r.t.v Phloeotomus pileatus pileatus 

406. Red-headed Woodpecker, r.t.v Melanerpes erythrocephalus 

41 2a. Northern Flicker, a.s.r Colaptes auratus lutcus 

417. Whip-poor-will, c.s.r Antrostomus vociferus vociferous 

420. Night Hawk, c.t.v Chordeiles virginianus 

423. Swift, C.S.R Chcetura pelagica 

428. Hummingbird, c.s.r Archilochus colubris 

444. Kingbird, c.s.r Tyrannus tyrannus 

452. Crested Flycatcher, u.s.r Myiarchus crinitus 

456. Phoebe, c.s.r Sayornis phoebe 

459. Ohve-sided Flycatcher, u.s.r Nuttallornis borealis 

461. Wood Pewee, c.s.r Myiochanes virens 

463. Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, u.s.r Empidonax flaviventris 

465. Acadian Flycatcher, u.s.r Empidonax virescens 

466. Alder Flycatcher, u.t.v Empidonax trailli alnorum 

467. Least Flycatcher, c.s.r Empidonax minimus 

474. Horned Lark, u.t.v Otocoris alpestris alpestris 

477. Blue Jay, c.p.r Cyanocitta cristata cristata 

488. Crow, C.P.R Corvus brachyrhynchos brachy- 

rhynchos 

494. Bobolink, C.S.R Dolichonyx oryzivorus 

495. Cowbird, u.s.r Molothrus ater ater 

498. Red-winged Blackbird, c.s.r Agelaius phoeniceus phceniceus 



394 History of Princeton 

501. Meadowlark, c.s.R., more every yea.T.Sturnella magna magna 

506. Orchard Oriole, u.s.R Icterus spurius 

507. Baltimore Oriole, c.s.R Icterus galbula 

509. Rusty Blackbird, c.s.R Eiiphagus carolinus 

511. Purple Crackle, r.s.r Quiscalus quiscula quiscula 

511. Bronzed Crackle, u.s.R Quiscalus quiscula csneus 

515. Pine Grosbeak, i.w.v Piiiicola enucleator leucura 

517. Purple Finch, c.s.R., few c.p.r Carpodacus purpureus purpureiis 

Enghsh Sparrow, p.r., not very 

common Passer domcsticus domesticus 

528. Redpoll, u.w.v Acanthis linaria linaria 

529. Coldfinch, A.P.R Astragalinus tristis trlstis 

533. Pine Siskin, l.w.v Spinus pinus pinus 

534. Snow Bunting, i.w.v Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis 

540. Vesper Sparrow, c.s.R Powcetes gramineus gramineus 

542. Savannah Sparrow, u.x.v Passerculus sandtvichensis savanna 

546. Crasshopper Sparrow, u.s.R Ammodramiis savannarum aus- 

tralis 

554. White-crowned Sparrow, r.t.v Zonotrichialeucophrysleucophrys 

558. White-throated Sparrow, u.s.R., c.T.v.Zonotrichia alhicollis 

559. Tree Sparrow, c.w.v SpizcUa monticola monticola 

560. Chipping Sparrow, a.s.r Spizella passer ina passer ina 

563. Field Sparrow, a.s.r Spizella pusilla pusilla 

567. Junco, A.T.V., a few s.R. on Wachu- 

sett Mt Junco hycmalis hyemalis 

581. Song Sparrow, a.s.r Melospiza melodia melodia 

584. Swamp Sparrow, c.s.R Melospiza georgiana 

585. Fox Sparrow, c.x.v Passerella iliaca iliaca 

587. Towhee, c.s.R Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythro- 

phthalmus 

595. Rose-breasted Crosbeak, u.s.R Zamclodia ludoviciana 

598. Indigo, c.s.R Passerina cyanca 

608. Scarlet Tanager, c.s.R Piranga erythromelas 

611. Purple Martin, r.s.r Progne subis subis 

612. Chff Swallow, r.s.r Petrochelidon lunifrons lunijrons 

613. Barn Swallow, c.s.R Hirundo erythrogaster 

614. Tree Swallow, c.s.R Iridoprocne bicolor 

616. Bank Swallow, u.s.R Riparia riparia 

619. Cedar Waxwing, c.s.R Bombycilla cedrorum 

621. Northern Shrike, u.w.v Lanius borealis 

624. Red-eyed Vireo, a.s.r Vircosylva olivacea 

627. Warbling Vireo, u.s.R Vircosylva gilva gilva 

628. Yellow-throated Vireo, u.s.R Lanivireo flavifron 

629. SoHtary Vireo, c.s.R Lanivireo solitarius solitarius 

636. Black and White Warbler, c.s.R Mniotilta varia 



Gleanings 395 

645. Nashville Warbler, u.s.R Vermivora rubricapilla ruhrica- 

pilla 

648a. Norlhern Parula Warbler, c.T.v Compsothlypis americana usnecs 

650. Cape May Warbler, u.x.v Dendroica tigrina 

652. Yellow Warbler, u.s.R Dendroica cesliva cesiiva 

654. Black-throated Blue Warbler, c.s.R. . .Dendroica ccerulescens ccsrulescens 

655. Myrtle Warbler, a.t.v., a few p.r Dendroica coronata 

657. Magnolia Warbler, c.x.v Dendroica magnolia 

659. Chestnut-sided Warbler, c.s.R Dendroica pensylvanica 

660. Bay -breasted Warbler, u.x.v Dendroica castanea 

661. Black-poll Warbler, u.x.v Dendroica striata 

662. Blackburnian Warbler, u.x.v., a few 

s.R Dendroica fusca 

667. Black-throated Green Warbler, c.s.R. . Dendroica virens 

671. Pine Warbler, c.x.v Dendroica vigorsi vigorsi 

672a. Yellow Pahii Warbler, c.x.v Dendroica palmar lun hypochry sea 

674. Oven Bird, c.s.R Seiurus aurocapillus 

675. Water Thrush, r.s.r Seiurus noveboracensis novebora- 

censis 
681. Maryland Yellow Throat, A. s.R Geothlypis trichas trichas 

685. Wilson's Warbler, u.x.v Wilsonia pusilla pusilla 

686. Canadian Warbler, c.x.v., also s.R.. .Wilsonia canadensis 

687. American Redstart, c.s.R Setophaga ruticilla 

704. Catbird, a. s.R Dumctella carolinensis 

705. Brown Thrasher, c.s.R Toxostonia rufum 

718. CaroHna Wren, x Thryothorus ludovicianus ludovi- 

cianus 

721. House Wren, r.s.r Troglodytes cedon cedon 

722. Winter Wren, r.x.v Nannus hiemalis hiemalis 

726. Brown Creeper, c.w.v Certhia familiaris americana 

727. White-breasted Nuthatch, c.p.r Sitta carolinensis carolinensis 

728. Red-breasted Nuthatch, u.w.v Sitta canadensis 

735. Chickadee, c.p.r Penthcsles atricapillus atrica- 

pillus 
740a. Acadian Chickadee, u.x.v Penthcstcs hudsonicus littoralis 

748. Golden-crowned Kinglet, c.x.v Regulus satrapa satrapa 

749. Ruby -crowned Kinglet, c.x.v Regulus calendula calendula 

755. Wood Thrush, c.s.R Hylocichla mustelina 

756. Veery, c.s.R Hylocichla fuscescens fuscescens 

758a. Olive-backed Thrush, x.v Hylocichla uslulata swainsoni 

75Qb. Hermit Thrush, c.s.R Hylocichla guttata pallasi 

761. Robin, A. s.R Planestictts migratorius migra- 

torius 
766. Bluebird, c.s.R., more in 1914 than for 

years previous Sialia sialis sialis 



39^ History of Princeton 

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF PRINCETON, MASS. 

Including all publications by Princeton people, or relating to the town, 
that are known to the Author. Those in the Princeton Library are marked 
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Gleanings 397 

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Manual of Magnetism,* including Galvanism, Magnetism, Electro- 
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398 History of Princeton 

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ancestors in America. Capt. John Jones of Princeton. N. E. Hist. 
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* Rutland and the Indian Troubles, 1723-1730. Rice F. P. pub. 1886. 

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An Oration in vindication of Free Masonry, at Washington, N. H., 
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Prince (Rev. Thomas),* Sermon at his Ordination, Boston, 17 18. 

Thursday Lecture; The Great and solemn Obligations to early 
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Account of the Revival of Religion in Boston, 1823. 
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Civil rulers raised up by God, to feed his people; 1728. 
Election Sermon; The people of New England put in mind of the 
righteous acts of the Lord; 1730. 



Gleanings 399 

Sermon at the North Church, Boston. The Dying Prayer of Christ 
for his People's preservation and unity. 1732. 

An improvement of the doctrine of Earthquakes being the works of 
God, and tokens of his just displeasure. 1755. 

Extraordinary Events the doings of God, and marvelous in His 
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Sermon on the day of general Thanksgiving for the victory near 
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Thanksgiving Sermon; The Salvation of God in 1746. 

The natural and moral government of God, in causing Droughts and 
Rains.* A Sermon at the South Church in Boston, Thursday, Aug. 24, 
1749; being the day of the General Thanksgiving, in the Province of 
Massachusetts, for the extraordinary reviving Rains, after the most 
distressing Drought which have been known among us in the memory 
of any living. Boston, 1749. London, 1750. 

Sermon on the death of King George I. Boston, 1727. 

The departure of Elijah lamented. Sermon on the death of Rev. 
Cotton Mather, 1728. 

The Grave and Death destroyed. Sermon on the death of Samuel 
Prince. 1728. 

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Boston, 1731. 

The faithful servant approved at death; Sermon on the death of 
Hon. Daniel Oliver Esq. 1732. 

Young Abel dead, yet speaketh. Sermon at the death of young 
Mr. Daniel Oliver. 1732. 

Christ abolishing death, and bringing Hfe and immortaUty to light 
in The Gospel. Sermon on the death of Belcher. 1736. 

Funeral Sermon on Rev. Nathaniel Williams. Boston, 1738. 

The pious cry unto the Lord, for help, when the Godly and Faithful 
fail among them; Sermon on the death of Hon. Thomas Gushing. 
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God Destroyeth the hope of man; Sermon on the death of Frederick, 
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Be followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the 
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The character of Caleb; Sermon on the death of Hon. Josiah Willard, 
1756. 

The case of Heman considered in a Sermon on the death of Mr. 
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Sermons. Edinburg, 1756. 

"Dying Exercises of Mrs. Deborah Prince and Devout Meditations 
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Boston Public Library. 



400 History of Pri?iccton 

Fuller (Rev. Timothy), Anonymously published pamphlet. Remarks on 
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Clarke (Rev. Samuel),* Anonymous pamphlet. Views of Christian Doc- 
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Backus (Rev. Charles),* pastor of a church in Somers, Connecticut. The 
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Pierce (Rev. John A.M.),* A Discourse delivered at Princeton, June 18, 
1817, at the ordination of the Rev. Samuel Clarke by John Pierce, 
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Woods (Rev. Leonard, D.D.),* The grand theme of the Christian preacher. 
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Phil. I, 21. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Boston, 
Printed by S. Kneeland in Queen St., MDCCVIII. 

Harrington (Rev. Timothy, A.M.),* A Discourse delivered at Princeton, on 
December 23, 1759, by Timothy Harrington, A.M., pastor of the 
First Church of Lancaster. Printed at the request and expense of the 
inhabitants of Princeton. Printed and sold by Edes & GiU in Queen 
St., Boston. 1760. Original in Lancaster PubHc Library. Reprint 
in Princeton Public Library. 

Russell (Rev. Joseph, A.M.),* A Sermon preached at Princeton, Massachu- 
setts April 8, 1798, and occasioned by the death of Madam Rebecca 
Gill, Consort of His Honor Moses Gill Esq., Lieutenant-Governor of the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, who died March 19, 1798 Aetat, 70, 
by Joseph Russell A.M., pastor of the church in Princeton. Boston, 
printed by Rhoades & Langhton, Court St., 1798. 

Bancroft (Rev. Aaron, D.D.), A sermon preached on the execution of 
Samuel Frost, Oct. 31, 1793, for the murder of Captain Elisha Allen, of 
Princeton. Printed by Isaiah Thomas, Worcester, 1793. 

Moore (Rev. Humphrey), A Sermon at the funeral of Rev. Timothy Fuller, 
of Merrimack, N. H., July 4, 1805. Amherst, N. H, Printed by Joseph 
Gushing, 1805. 

Clarke (Rev. Samuel),* The Character and Reward of the Righteous. A 
sermon, occasioned by the death of John Adams. Preached in Prince- 
ton, July 16, 1826, by Rev. Samuel Clarke. Worcester; William 
Manning, Printer. 

Lawrence (Rev. Edward A.),* Discourse at the Funeral of Rev. Leonard 
Woods, Andover, Aug. 28, 1854. Steel Portrait. 

GOFFE (Joseph),* The result of an Ecclesiastical Council, published at 
Princeton, March 7, 181 7; and the Protest of the Minority; with Re- 



Gleanings 401 

marks, notes and observations, by a member of the Council. Pub- 
lished by the author, Worcester, April, 181 7. 

Bancroft (Rev. Aaron, D.D.),* A Vindication of the Result of the Late 
Council, convened in Princeton. By Aaron Bancroft, D.D. Worcester, 
June, 1817. 

GOFFE (Joseph),* The Result of Council at Princeton incapable of vindi- 
cation; or a Review of Dr. Bancroft's vindication of the Result, &c., 
&c. By a member of the Council. Worcester, August, 181 7. 

Church of Christ * in Princeton. Articles of Faith and Covenant, 
adopted Nov., 1810. Revised and printed for the use of the members, 
March, 1834. Boston. Printed by Crocker & Brewster, 47 Wash- 
ington Street. 

First Congregational Church,* Princeton, Mass. History, Articles of 
Faith Covenant and Standing Rules, with a Catalogue of Officers and 
Members, January i, 1859. Worcester, Henry J. Howland. 

Paul Revere Bells,* including that in the belfry of the Congregational 
Church in Princeton. 

Congregational Sabbath School Library,* Catalogue of books, Prin- 
ceton, May, 1 84 1. 

Baptist Church* in Princeton. Articles of Faith and Covenant. Wor- 
cester, Printed by William Manning, July, 1822. 

Garfield (J. F. D.),* History of the First Baptist Church, Fitchburg, 
Mass., a branch of the Baptist Church in Leominster, which was a 
branch from the parent church in Princeton. 

Emerson (William A.), Sketch of the First Baptist Church, Fitchburg, 
Mass., in Fitchburg, Past and Present. 1887. 

Sketch of the Central Baptist Church, Leominster, Mass.; a branch 
of the Baptist Church in Princeton. In Leominster, Historical and 
Picturesque, 1888. 

Gill (Moses),* Thanksgiving Proclamation, November 28, 1799. 

Tavern-keepers', Stagemen's and Teamsters' Union Ball* at the 
Lancaster House, Lancaster, Mass. Invitation Wednesday evening, 
February 13th, at three o'clock, with fifty names and addresses of 
Managers. Lancaster, Feb. 5, 1835. 

Frost (Samuel), The confessions and dying words of Samuel Frost. Also 
a poem. Massachusetts Spy Broadside, 1793. 

Reid (J. A. & R. A.),* Memoirs of Samuel Woods, of Princeton, Mass., 
and relatives. Providence: J. A. & R. A. Reid, Printers. 1886. 

Church Review,* Biographical Sketch of Rev. James Murdock, Re- 
printed from Church Review, Jan., 1857. 

Heywood (Ezra H.),* Uncivil Liberty. An Essay to show the injustice 
and impolicy of ruling woman without her consent. Princeton, 1872. 

Fay (Annah Charlotte),* A Message to Woman, from Paul's Epistle. 
Worcester, F. S. Blanchard & Co., Printers, 1898. 

Allen (Nathan),* Address before the Agricultural Club of Princeton. 

Pomona Grange,* Programme for Pomona Grange, No. 74, P. of H. List 
of Officers and Members, 1913. 

Hart (Charles Henry),* Pamphlet article on Edward Savage the portrait 
painter and engraver, with a chronological catalogue of his engraved 
■work, from Proc. Mass. Hist. Soc, Second Series, vol. 19, 1905, 
pp. 1-19. 

Blake (Francis Everett),* Scrap Books containing many old original 
Town papers, deposited with other valuable papers in the vault of the 
Town Library, 



402 History of Princeton 

Harris Hawthorne Wilder Professor of Zoology in Smith College " His- 
tory of the Human Body " and several other publications. 

Portraits* in the Princeton Public Library: Thomas Prince, repro- 
duction from engraving — Moses Gill, reproduction from painting — 
Ward-Nicholas Boylston, reproduction from painting — George 
Washington and Benjamin Fr.a,nklin, original engravings by Savage 

— John Adams, reproduction of engraving by Savage — Edward 
Savage, reproduction from the Saint Memin Engraving — Rev. James 
MuRDOCK, steel engraving — Edward A. Goodnow, steel engraving 

— Francis E. Blake, reproduction from photograph. 

Portraits in the Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, by Copley. 

Gov. Moses Gill, his first wife Sarah (Prince) Gill and his second 

wife Rebecca (Boylston) Gill. 
Portrait in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, of Ward N. Boylston. 
Goodspeed Collection of engravings and miniature paintings, by Edward 

Savagp at the Worcester Art Museum. 

LETTERS RELATING TO EARLY RECORDS OF RUTLAND 

Boston, Mass., May 19th., 1884. 
To the Town of Princeton, Mass, 

In behalf of Mrs. Edwin Woods of Barre, I desire to place in the custody 
of the town, one book of records of the Proprietors of Rutland, being their 
second volume, embracing records of meetings 1737 to 1770. 

This volume, of whose possible existence I learned some months since, 
has been finally secured only by persistent search, and but for the interest 
evinced by Mrs. Woods might never have been found. 

As Hon. Chas. T. Russell informs me of his intention of presenting to 
the town 1}\q first volume of these records, it is gratifying to know that the 
two volumes, forming an uninterrupted record of the proceedings of the 
Proprietors from 1714 to 1770, have, after many years of separation, been 
brought together, and can be deposited in so secure a place for preservation, 
as that which the town now enjoys. 

Esteeming it a pleasure to be the medium of this communication, I am, 

Very truly yours, 
Francis E. Blake. 
Recorded in Town Records 
Nov. 4, 1884. 

Cambridge May 17, 1884 
To the Town of Princeton 

Many years ago, in making some historical investigations, I found one 
volume of the Records of the Original Proprietors of Rutland, which was 
kindly placed in my hands, where it has since remained. It seems to me 
very desirable that measures should be taken to preserve this volume, 
and I now desire to place it in the custody of the town, which, under the 
munificent gift of our townsman, Mr. E. A. Goodnow, now has such ample 
means to secure it against all loss or damage, and to preserve it, where it 
may be accessible to any one who may desire to consult it. 

I very gladly, therefore, transfer to the town any title I may have to 
it, and recjuest that it may be taken by the town, and carefully preserved 
with its other records and documents. — 



Gleanings 403 

The volume, by lapse of time or want of care, before it came into my 
possession, had become somewhat worn or injured. It has been carefully 
repaired by my friend Mr. F. E. Blake, and is now in very good condition. — 

I am very truly yours, 
Chas. Theo. Russell. 
Recorded in the Town Records 
Nov. 4, 1884. 

Voted, to accept the gifts of the "Records of the Proprietors of Rutland" 
this day received from Hon. Chas. T. Russell and Mrs. Edwin Woods, 
and that the two volumes be placed in the custody of the Clerk, to be 
held as the property of the town forever. — that the letters accom- 
panying them be recorded in full upon the (our) records, and the Clerk 
be directed in behalf of the inhabitants (now assembled) to acknowledge 
in a suitable manner, to Mr. Russell and Mrs. Woods, their hearty 
appreciation of the valuable gift, which places in their possession these 
original records of the township of which this town, Princeton, origi- 
nally formed a part. 

Voted, that the Committee appointed by the town, on the preservation of 
the town records, be given full power to have these volumes repaired 
and appropriately bound or to have a suitable case made for them, — 
or both, as may be deemed best for their preservation. 

Goodnow Memorial Building. In 1882 Mr. E. A. Good- 
now, a former citizen of Princeton, desiring to perpetuate 
the memory of his wives and family, bought a tract of 
land north of the Congregational church of Mr. John 
Brooks. Here he erected a beautiful and substantial edi- 
fice of Milford pink granite and brown stone trimming with 
a tower and clock. 

The building was designed to be used both for library 
and school purposes. Mr. Goodnow stipulated that when- 
ever the library outgrew its quarters the adjacent school 
rooms should be taken for library purposes. One of these 
rooms is already utilized. He also gave a substantial 
sum of money, the income to go towards the purchase of 
books and equipment for the library. A large fireproof 
vault for the preservation of town records was also pro- 
vided. The building was completed in 1883. 

Bagg Hall. After the burning of Boylston Hall, Sept. 9, 
1883, Town Meetings were held in Beaman's Hall. 

The question of a new hall was agitated and Mr. E. A. 
Goodnow the donor of "Goodnow Memorial Building" 



404 History of Princeton 

offered $3000 if the citizens would subscribe an equal sum 
and the Town raise $9000 by taxation. He also stipulated 
that the building should be named Bagg Hall in memory 
of his wives who were daughters of Dr. Bagg of Princeton. 
Plans were prepared for a brick building with brown stone 
trimmings by Stephen C. Earle, the architect of the Me- 
morial Building, and the Town chose Isaac F. Thompson, 
Rufus Davis and Henry F. Sanborn a building committee. 
This committee had the plans revised, making a smaller 
building than first planned. The present building cost- 
ing $12,000 — and $907 — for furnishings. The Hall was 
completed in 1885 and the first town meeting held in the 
new building was the annual meeting of March, 1886. 

HISTORICAL DATA 

" Lest we forget " 

1632 — March. First mention of Mt. Wachusett. as seen by 
Gov. Winthrop and his party, from "Boston Rock" in 
Waltham. 

1714 — April 14. First meeting of proprietors to consider es- 
tablishing township of what is now Rutland. 

1715 — Dec 24. Next meeting of proprietors voted, "that the 
contents of six miles square be surveyed and set off for the 
settlement of sixty two families", details of settlements, dis- 
tribution of lots, etc. left to a committee to decide. 

1722 — May 30. The town of Rutland was Incorporated. 
Thereafter the proprietors had no control over the six miles 
square or "settlers part" the remaining land of the township 
was divided Into sections, known as Northwest Quarter now 
Barre, The Northeast Quarter now Hubbardston, the east 
wing now Princeton, and the west wing now Oakham. The 
remainder with a portion of Leicester is now Paxton. 

1742 — First settler In Princeton, Joshua Wilder came from 
Lancaster, locating In the east part of the town. 

1750 — First public house in town was opened by Abijah Moore. 

1751 — May. Robert Keyes removed with his family from 
Shrewsbury to Princeton. 

1753 — Oliver Davis, early settler in Princeton built the first 
saw mill in the west part of the town, one half mile above 
the present site of Roper's mill. 

1754 — First saw and grist mill built on or near the spot occupied 
by Osgood's mill, by Benj Wilson and Moses Garfield. 

1755 — Oliver Davis built a grist mill on the site now occupied 
by the Roper Lumber and Box Company. 



Gleanings 405 

1755 — April 14. Lucy Kcyes daughter of Robert Keyes dis- 
appeared, supposed to have been carried off by the Indians. 

1757 — French and Indian War. Company under Capt. Peter 
Davis of Rutland, Marched to relief of Fort William Henry. 

1758 — Dr Zachariah Harvey the first practicing physician came 
to Princeton from Shrewsbury. 

1759 — First meeting of PrinceTovvn District held Dec. 24.^^ at 
Tavern of Abijah Moore. 

1759 — First preaching; Sermon by Rev Mr Harrington of 

Lancaster, at Abijah Moore's Tavern, Dec. 23. 
1759 — First public school in town kept by Samuel Woods, in 

the house now occupied by Mr A. B. Wetherbee. 
1761 — June 29, "Voted that Mr. Caleb Mirick's barn yard be 

a pound for the present year and that said Mirick be pound 

Keeper." 

1761 — Robert Keyes chosen "Clerk of the Market" and Abijah 
Moore in 1765 — to same office. Toivn records. 

1 761 — Nov. 26. Edward Savage the distinguished portrait 
Painter born Nov. 26 in the western part of the town 

1762 — June 3. Wachusett Hill sold for £65. The purchaser 
having one year in which to pay the purchase money. 

1762 — June 30. Frame of meeting house raised. 

1763 — May 30. The meeting house first used for town meeting. 
Previous to this date the meetings had been held at Capt. 
Abijah Moore's Tavern. Toivn records. 

1764 — Aug. 12. First church organized in Princeton. 

1765 — First Tythingmen 1765 and later. 
1767 — March 2. Voted "to build a pound." 

1767 — Sept. 9. Rev. Timothy Fuller ordained first minister in 
Princeton. 

1768 — May 12. Voted " that ye pound be built with stone and 
that it shall be built thirty feet square within ye walls, also 
be six feet high from ye ground with a stick of Timber round 
ye whole upon ye Top. Each stick to be ten Inches thick." 
Town records. 

1768 — The treasurer paid one shilling "for putting Irons on to 
the stocks." Town records. 

1770 — David Everett the noted journalist and author born. 

1 77 1 — Town of Princeton Incorporated. 

1772 — Aug. 10. Charles Dwiman of Princeton advertises in 
Boston Evening Post, to carry news papers weekly for six 
months as far as the Connecticut River. Terms; One Dollar 
for the six months: one half at delivery of the second paper 
and the remainder on delivery of the last. 

1773 — Oct. 4. "Voted to request of Mr. Fuller ye Tax due 
upon the Great Hill." Toivn Records. 

1773 — Oct. II. "Voted to purchase weights and measures for 
ye Towns use." The cost of these was 11-8-10-2. Town 
records. 



4o6 History of Princeton 

1774 — Treasurer paid "Wm. Thompson for Going to North- 
bury To Gitt a Plan of the Land Latly annext To this Town. 
4*^" Tozvn Records. This probably refers to the unin- 
corporated land annexed in 1771. 

1775 — ^Jan. 12. Voted to appoint a "Committee to Receive 
Contributions for Boston & Charlestown and also to sell the 
grain and other provisions for the money & Return the 
money to Boston & Charlestown." 

1775 — May 24. Voted "to receive 24 of the poor of Boston." 
Toivn Records. (Princeton's first city boarders.) 

1775 — March. A Company of Minute-Men formed, Ebenezer 

Jones Captain. 
1775 — Vote about use of Spirits at funerals. Town records. 

1775 — April 19. Princeton Minute Men Marched to Lexington 
and Concord. 

1776 — June 14. The town voted to "support independence if 
it should be declared." 

1776 — July 14. News of Declaration of Independence reached 

Princeton. 
1778 — Two Princeton citizens required as guards to captured 

troops of Gen. Burgoyne. 

1778 — Oct. 19. Voted "to Robert Cowden for Serving as 
Town Treasurer four years (the first person ever paid for 
that service in this Town) £10." Town Records. 

1779 — Sept. I. Boaz Moore advertises for his servent 
Frederick Gibbs who has run away. 16 years old. $10. 
reward. 

1779 — March. Lease of farm of Capt. John Bowen absentee. 
Sold at auction to James Bowers of Westminster who resold 
to Joshua Everett May 30. 1781. 

1779 — July. Furniture, leather bottom chairs, books &c. 
at house of John Bowen Gentleman. (Probate Court 
records.) 

1780 — Seven of Burgoyne's men take Oath of Allegiance and are 
naturalized. 

1781 — Jan. 9. Town meeting — Chose moderator and then 
adjourned "for one Quarter of an hour to the house of Lt. 
Caleb Mirich." As Mr. Mirick "kept tavern" not far from 
the town (meeting) house the reason for this adjournment 
and many others may be readily surmised. 

1781 — "The Company in England for the Propagation of the 
Gospel in New England" held lands in Hubbardston and 
Princeton, and was relieved by the General Court from 
paying taxes. 

1782 — Land on meeting house hill reserved for a road ten rods 
in width. 

1783 On Saturday the 23rd of September 1783 Samuel 

Frost killed his father, and was acquitted by jury, on the 
supposition of insanity. 



Gleanings 407 

1783 — Governor Hancock visited Princeton during the summer 
for his health. 

1785 — Feb. 2. Paid Silas Fay for Jury box, i shilling. Now on 
exhibition at the Library. 

1786 — Homestead o.' Edwin Goodnow built, afterwards "Good- 
now Inn." 

1786 — Ebenezer Parker was paid for "making the stocks." 

1786 — Stove put up in the first Meeting house. 

1787 — First church choir in First Meeting house. 

1787 — Silent Wilde of Shutesbury, a news carrier, settled in 
town. 

1787 — Wed. Feb. i. Capt Henry Gale arrested while attend- 
ing town meeting and imprisoned for participation in the 
Shays Rebellion. 

1787 — May II. Capt Henry Gale convicted of high treason 
and sentenced to death, later reprieved and finally pardoned. 

1788 — Thomas Gleason advertises for his servant boy who 
has run away, in the 17th year of his age, one shilling 
reward. 

1790 — Abel W'illard was paid a bounty for "a full grown wolf 
and wolf's whelp." 

1792 — Sept. 18. The town refused "to give Liberty to Doctor 
Wilson to Inoculate such persons as are disposed to take the 
small Pox in this town." Sept. 29, also refused Dr. W. 
liberty to "erect a Hospital in any part of the Town, and 
to Innoculate such persons as shall be disposed to take the 
small pox." Town records. 

1 793 — March 4. ' ' Voted Six pounds to be assessed and expended 
in a Singing School." Town records. 

1793 — July 18. Notice in Spy of murder of Capt. Elisha Allen 
by Samuel Frost Frost described as "5 ft 4 in high, rather 
slenderly built and very strong. He had a peculiar way of 
tossing or twitching his head and his countinance was very 
unpleasant." 

1793 — Aug. 18. Robbery of silver plate at the Moses Gill 
Mansion. 

1793 — Oct. 31. Samuel Frost was executed in Worcester for 
murder of Elisha Allen. — just ten years since he Killed his 
father — then acquitted on ground of insanity — A sermon 
preached and he was present. He was ready to go "as he 
was to go it had better be soon over." 2000 spectators. A 
Sermon preached on Saml. Frost 1792 by A. Bancroft and 
poem with dying words and confession. {Spy Broadside 
Am Ant Soc.) 

1795 — Second Meeting-house built. 

1795 — Survey of Town. Paid John Watson £1.10 David Rice 
carrying chain 33^2 days 0-14-0 John Dana 4 days measur- 
ing and surveying 0-16-0. 

1796 — A plan of town made by John Roper. 



4o8 History of Princeton 

1796 — Charges for cartage from Boston to Princeton were 
2* 6*^ per cwt. 

1797 — May 15. The town directed the Treasurer "to pay to 
such Inhabitants as shall kill and bring in the whole bodys 
of Crows & Hen Hawks within one year from this day one 
shilling each, provided they are killed within the town." 
Town records. 

The Treasurers books show many payments under this order. 

1798 — First stove for heating schools placed in North District 
schoolhouse. 

1799 — Dog tax was in force. 

1799 — - Joshua Everett and others petitioned the General Court 
to be sat off to Westminster, and were unsuccessful. 

1800 — Jan. 21. "Voted that the Desk and such parts of the 
meeting house as shall be thought proper be put into mourn- 
ing" and Authorized the purchase of black velvet for that 
purpose. Rev. Mr. Russell to be requested "to deliver a 
discourse suitable to the occasion" on the 22nd February 
next. In honor of Pres. Washington who died Dec. 14, 
1799. 

1800 — April 7. It was voted that the "Velvet purchased by 
the Committee to dress the Pulpit on the 22nd of February 
last" — "be made into a Burying Cloth." 

1800 — May 20. Lieut. Gov. Moses Gill, native of Charles- 
town, and long time resident in Princeton, died in Boston, 
aged 67. 

1801 — March 2. Annual town meeting "the town made choice 
of Deacon Hobbs to wait upon the reverend Mr. Russell 
requesting him to give his Attendance and open the meeting 
with prayer, which he did accordingly, after prayers the 
Clerk read the Laws against Profane Swearing for the due 
observance of the Sabbath, and sundry other Laws, the town 
then proceeded to the choice of town officers." 

1 801 — Trustees of Grafton Indians gave to Hannah Brown wife 
of Thomas Brown, daughter of Mary Thomas from Aaron 
Ball 9 acres in Princeton N.E. side Quinnepoxit. (trails 
there now and a cellar hole.) 

1802 — $30. for Singing School. 

1805 — Painted meeting house and provided curtains and 
trimming for pulpit. 

1805 — Wood bought for ministerial purposes $8. per cord. 

1805 — Rev. Timothy Fuller First Minister in Princeton died at 
Mcrrimac, N. H. aged 67. 

1808 — Nov. 8. Samuel Woods First Schoolmaster in Prince- 
ton Native of Chelmsford, Mass. died aged 86. 

1808 — Allowed Nath. Reed $100. for failure of Crops. 

1812 — Thompson Lodge F. & A. M. named in honor of Rev. 
James Thompson of Barre, at that time D. D. Grand Master, 
located in Rutland. Jurisdiction over Princeton, Sterling, 



Gleanings 409 

Holdcn, and Hubbardston, constituted in 1812 and closed 
labor 1826. 
1812 — West Burying Ground established. 

1812 — First Post Office established, Samuel Stevenson first 
appointed Postmaster. 

1813 — Dec. 21. David E\'erctt Native of Princeton, Teacher 
and Journalist, died at Marietta Ohio, aged 43. 

1813 — The "Washington Benevolent Society of Westminster 
and Princeton" was formed. The object appears to have 
been to encourage benevolence and to stimulate its members 
to a study and cultivation of the virtues of George Wash- 
ington. 

Along the provisions of its by-laws was the following, "Any 
member of the Society essentially departing from the moral 
or political character of Washington, shall be reprimanded, 
suspended or expelled." Town files. 

1817 — July 6. Edward Savage, native of Princeton, celebrated 
Painter and Engraver died aged 56. 

1818 — Clark Mirick contributed $30. for singing school. 

1819 — Stove first placed in the 2'^ Congregational Church, 
the gift of Ward N. Boylston, Esq. 

1820 — Presbyterian church formed and small house of Worship 
built. The approximate size was 40 X 50 feet, it had no 
steeple and no galleries. 

1820 — First stage Route established. 

1822 — Joseph Mason gave $35. for singing and town allowed 
$25. more. 

1822 — July 31. Baptist church organized. 

1823. — Residence of Edward Goodnow opened as an Inn. 

1823 — A petition to General Court December 1823 about a toll 
gate near John Davis's (just beyond Slab City mill, on the 
turnpike). 

1825 — Mrs. John P. Rice the first person to reach the top of 
Mt. Wachusett on horseback. Previous to that time 
Phineas Gregory had been to the summit with an ox 
team. 

1825 — Voted that a Singing School be set up to keep afternoon 
and evening for the space of one fortnight and at expiration 
of that time an evening school Kept till the money is ex- 
pended" $25. appropriated. 

1825 — March 4, Mt. Adams celebration. Attempt to change 
Name of Wachusetts Mountain to Mount Adams. 

1826 — North burying ground established. 

1827 — Voted "as the sense of this meeting that the town 
Resolve as individuals that they will use all reasonable and 
prudent means to suppress the evil of Intemperance and 
other injurious practices." 

1828 — English and classical school (The Academy) established. 
1828 — The First Baptist Church built of brick. 



410 History of Princeton 

1829 — Mrs. Alicia Boylston gave the town a fire engine. (Kept 
between Blake's store and Thomas Gill's.) It was sold in 

1829 — Could not get interest & harmony in Singing School. 
Voted to indefinitely postpone subject & distribute money 
appropriated among the three religious societies for singing 
purposes. 

1829 — "We will use all proper means to suppress the immorder- 
ate use of ardent spirits." Town vote. 

1830 — Princeton Declaiming Society, and The Wachusett 
Moral Society for Mutual Improvement formed, both organ- 
izations connected with the English and Classical School. 

1830 — Amos Merriam, Surveyor, made a map of Princeton for 
the State. 

1831 — Town appropriated $30. for singing school. 

1 83 1 — Dr. Brooks and Dr. Smith allowed $36. for vaccinating 
inhabitants of Princeton. 

1831 — East Burying ground established. 

1833 — Jan. 20. Store and tenement building owned by Capt. 
Edward Goodnow, burned. The store was occupied by his 
son, Erasmus D. Goodnow whose stock of goods was con- 
sumed. The tenements were occupied by E. D. Goodnow 
and family, Mr. C. Meriam and Mr. Bigelow mechanics, 
with their families and several boarders. The thermometer 
was 9 degrees below zero, and many were frost bitten. 
Capt. Goodnow's loss on building, was $1531, E. D. Good- 
now's stock and furniture $1025.61, Asa K. Meriam, tools, 
furniture etc. $416.86. Gilbert Bigelow tools, furniture, 
etc. $101.91, Miss. Hunt, clothing $20, Rufus Fessenden 
$10, Edward A. Goodnow $40. J. W. Watson $30, Eunice 
Bagg $50, Moses Bullard and one of his daughters living 
with Mr. E. D. Goodnow's family $50 

1833 — Universalist Society formed. 

1835 — 36 — County road from A. B. Wetherbee's to Roper's 
mill, built. 

1835 — Muster in field " opposite Boylston's." 

1836 — Voted to oppose annexation of No town. 

1836 — The second Baptist church building built. 

1837 — Committee appointed to buy poor farm & bought in 
1838 & "work house" established. 

1838 — Ebenezer Parker, Jr. sold To inhabitants of the Town of 
Princeton farm of 138 acres, with buildings thereon for a 
poor farm. Consideration, $3,350.00 Reg. Deeds. Vol. 331,- 
p. 418. 

1838 — Annexation of a portion of Notown. 

1838 — Union Congregational Church built at the head of the 
Common. 

1840 — Methodist Church was formed. Church edifice dedi- 
cated Feb. 13, 1840. 



Gleanings 411 

1841 — Feb. 18. The anti slavery society of Worcester county, 
north division held its annual meeting at Princeton at ten 
o'clock A. M . Mr. W. L. Garrison was present and delivered 
an Anti-slavery lecture. 

1841 — First chair shop in Princeton operated by Benjamin & 
Joseph Stuart. 

1842 — Boylston Hall built. The Town House on the hill was 
used until the new Hall was completed. 

1842 — Sept. 28th. Quarterly Meeting Worcester County South 
Division, Anti-Slavery Society held in Worcester. Joshua 
T. Everett of Princeton and William B. Earle of Lancaster 
committee to request of Gov. Davis permission to publish 
a letter to him from Hon. W. C. Preston, dated Dec. 1839, 
respecting alleged threat to hang any abolitionist found in 
the state of South Carolina. 

1843 — Not much excitement in Princeton in times of Millerism. 
1846 — "Joseph Ballister, Charles Russell, Newton Carpenter, 

Charles T. Russell and their successors" incorporated as 
Wachusett House Co. for the purpose of erecting and main- 
taining a Hotel and the buildings and improvements con- 
nected therewith on some convenient site in the town of 
Princeton provided that said Co. should not carry on the 
business of Hotel keeping and that they "shall not permit 
the sale of intoxicating drinks in their house." 

1848 — South Burying Ground, near Brooks Station estab- 
lished. 

1850 — May 29. Mr. John Brooks, son of Enoch late of Boston 
and formerly of Princeton, Mass., was drowned in attempt- 
ing to swim across the Chagres River. He was on his way 
to California. 

1852 — Woodlawn cemetery established. 

1858 — Feb. 3. Mr. Charles Chandler of Princeton, swindled 
by a Fertilizer agent, who sold him a town right and took 
his signature with blank paper above which he filled in, so 
as to make a promisory note for $16.00 which he sold at a 
neighboring store. 

1859 — First published Report of the Princeton School Com- 
mittee, April I. 1859-April I. i860. 

i860 — Capt. Boyles and John Brooks, W. B. Goodnow and 

others, organized about i860 an Agricultural Club. 
i860 — The annexation of a strip of land from Westminster 

formerly a portion of Notown. 
i860 — Oct. 18. Luther Crawford the first person to reach the 

top of Mt Wachusett with a horse and carriage. 
i860 — Wachusett made a Coast Survey station. 
i860 — Baptist Church was sold and soon after converted into 

a hotel. The Prospect House, now the Princeton Inn. 
1861 — Mar. 13. The town had been accustomed to give the 

ofifice of treasurer and collector to the lowest bidder who 



412 History of Princeton ' 

could give the requisite bonds. Usually the town had paid 
upwards of fifty dollars to the person who has held the office, 
but this year, owing to some local feelings and prejudices, 
the bids were still lower and now the gentleman holding the 
office (Mr. John Brooks Jr.) paid ten dollars and a half for 
the privilege. 
l86i — July 4. Big bonfire on summit of Mt. Wachusett. 

1861 — Chair shop of James and William H. Brown burned. 

1862 — July 3. William Ward Merriam, missionary to European 
Turkey shot and killed by robbers near Constantinople. 

1862 — Oct. I. Lieut Samuel Brooks Beaman presented with 
a sword, belt, sash and pistol, by citizens of Princeton at 
Boylston Hall. 

1864 — Jan. 20. The chair shop in East Princeton owned by 
Wm. H. Brown, together with his grocery store adjoining 
it, was consumed by fire about three o'clock Saturday 
morning. The conflagration was distinctly seen from 
Fitchburg. 

1865 — Feb. 13. The dwelling house of Jacob Sawin of East 
Princeton took fire in the ell part on the night of the 13th. 
House and furniture destroyed, corn, wheat, rye, potatoes, 
etc. Ins. $700. 

1865 — July — Carpenter shop of Silas Harthan opposite the 
parsonage struck by lightning and burned. 

1866 — Good Templars organized continued but a short time. 
1869 — Aug. 4. John Dana Mirick Post G. A. R. instituted. 

1869 — Sept. Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, recently Secretary of 
War, spent a few weeks at the Wachusett House, Princeton, 
for the benefit of his health. 

1870 — First stone Summit House built by W"\ G. Morse. 

1 87 1 — Road from T. H. Skinner's to East Princeton built. 

1873 — House of John Brooks burned Feb. 24. 

1874 — Wachusett Mountain Co., incorporated. 

Wm. H. Brown — Levi Goss — Joseph Collins, 
for the purpose of purchasing, improving, and disposing of 
land upon and near Wachusett Mountain in the town of 
Princeton, restricted to not more than 800 acres. Authorized 
to build hotels, roads &c. Capital not to exceed $300,000. 
The company that year built a road to the summit 

1875 — First Summit House and barn were built by the Wachu- 
sett Mountain Company. 

1877 — Chair shop of William H. Brown burned. 

1879 — Summit House enlarged and bowling alley built. 

1883 — Sept. 9. — The Town Hall, better known as Boylston 
Hall and a small wooden building near by, owned and 
occupfed by William H. Felton of Clinton, as a variety 
store, were totally destroyed by fire about one o'clock this 
morning. The fire, supposed to be of incendiary origin 
started in Felton's store, and spread to the town house. 



Gleanings 413 

The loss to the town is $5000.00 and no insurance. Mr. 
Felton had a small insurance on his property. The site 
of the fire is nearly opposite the new Goodnow Memorial 
building, but owing to the direction of the wind, that 
was not threatened. The fire was distinctly seen from 
Worcester, and the sight when the building fell was 
grand. 

A reward of $300 was ofTered by the selectmen for the 
detection of the parties who set the fire. 

The Princeton Cornet Band lost, by the burning of 
Boylston Hall, property to the amount of $250, including 
drums, music, cymbals, uniforms, etc. The farmers of 
Princeton decided not to hold their fair this fall; their 
equipments were all destroyed at the fire. 

The burning of Boylston Hall afforded Mr. E. A. 
Goodnow the opportunity of making the following proposi- 
tion, which was accepted by the town; viz.: If the town 
would have the church and horse-sheds moved over to the 
site of the old town-house, and purchase the lot on the hill 
adjoining the library, for a town-house and hall, he would 
give $5000.00 towards the building. {Massachusetts Spy, 
Sept. 14, 1883.) 
1883 — Goodnow Memorial Building given by E. A. Goodnow, 
built of Milford pink granite with brown stone trimmings by 
Norcross Brothers of Worcester at a cost of $25000, contains 
Library, Reading Room and two school rooms. 

1883 — Chair shops of Thurston & Eugene R. Buck burned. 

1884 — Congregational Church moved from common to former 
site of Boylston Hall. 

1884 — County road from Mountain House to Wachusett Lake 
built. 

1884 — Dec. 20th. Voted to accept gift of Records of Proprie- 
tors of Rutland, received from Hon. C. T. Russell and Mrs. 
Woods, which places in their possession these original 
records of the township of which this town (Princeton) 
originally formed a part. Deposited with our town records 
in a fire-proof safe. 

1884-5, Three story "Summit House" built by P. A. Beaman 
&Son. 

1885 — First publication of Princeton Town Clerk's Report was 
for the year ending Feb. 13, 1886. 

1886. — March 8. $300.00 appropriated for tablets in Bagg 

Hall in memory of our soldiers. 
1887 — July 7. Cong'l Chapel, East Princeton dedicated. 
1887 — Sept. 6. Dedication of Goodnow Memorial Building 

and Bagg Hall. 

1891 — High School established. 

1892 — June 14. Methodist Church struck by lightning and 
burned. 



414 History of Princeton 

1892 — Sept. — Howe Pump and Engine Co. exhibited chemical 

and water engines for extinguishing fires. 
1892 — Nov. 8. Town voted to purchase two Howe chemical 

and water engines, one for East Princeton and the other for 

the center of the town, also two sets of hooks and ladders, 

trucks buckets etc. 
1892— Dec. 24. Town accepted E. A. Goodnow's gift of a lot 

of land for a park and $1000, in money to keep it in repair 
1892 — Dec. 24. Town accepted gift of a Chickering Upright 

Piano for use of the High School, from Mrs. Lois R. Hastings. 
1892 — Town received by will of the late Eli Kilburn of Sterling 

$1000 the income to be expended annually on books of a 

good moral character, such as Histories, Biographies and 

Scientific works. 
1899 — Chair shop of John H. Temple burned. 

1899 — September. "Grand View House" burned. 

1900 — Wachusett Mountain taken over by the state as a 
reservation. 

1905 — Forestry work begun and carried on to the present tim.e 
1 91 5, at the State Reservation, quite extensively, about 
150 acres planted to white pine and spruce. 

1908 — Present Summit House designed and built by J. C. F. 
Mirick. As the state would not appropriate money for 
this purpose it was done from the county funds, requiring 
the greater part of three years appropriations to complete 
the building. 

1908 — Nov. 4. The Davis and the Heywood houses destroyed 
by fire. 

1910 — A fire watch established at the Summit House observa- 
tory, Mt. Wachusett, a big factor in the reduction of forest 
fires. 

1910 — Summit House Annex built. 

1910 — July 26 The "Temple Stuart" chair shop burned. 

1910 — Nov. 28. "Wachusett House" burned. 

1912 — Summer Prison Camp on Wachusett reservation es- 
tablished by the County. 

1913 — First woman chosen to serve on the school board; Miss 
Ethel R. Mirick. 

1914 — A macadam road completed from the county road at the 
base of Wachusett to the summit. 

1914 — July II. Mountain house burned. 



INDEX 



Abbot, Joseph, 203. 
Abbott, Isaac, 81, 203, 

228. 
Adams, Rev. Daniel, 

158, 159- 
Edwin N., 261. 
John, 283. 
John of Princeton, 

360. 
John Quincy, 279. 
Rev. S. W., 177- 
Agricultural products, 

3- 
Alden, John, 41. 
Aldrich, Fred R., 199. 
Allen, Rev. Benjamin, 
60. 
Daniel, 87. 
Ebenezer, 28. 
EHsha, 85, 196, 205, 

212. 
Ephraim, 76-78, 94, 
97, 100, 180, 185, 
218. 
Rev. George, 296. 
John, 42. 
Jonas, B., 358. 
Lucy, 321. 
Dr. Nathan, 279. 
Obadiah, 225. 
Simeon, 232. 
Willard, 173. 
William, 27, 29, 203. 
Ammunition chest, 244. 
Ancient Order of 
United Workmen, 
377- 
Anderson, Theodore N., 

261. 
Andrews, Rev. Elisha, 

174- 
Nathaniel, 86, 258. 
Andros, Gov., 15, 16. 
Animal products, 3. 
Appleton, Dorothy, 

283. 



Appropriations, 6; for 

schools, 211. 
Arch, James, 242, 243. 
Area of town, i. 
Arnold, James A., 363. 
Assets, 7. 
Associates' names, 18, 

19- 

Atkinson, Rev. Kins- 
man, 177. 
W. H., 177- 

Ayers, Charles, 261. 

Babcock, Amos, 232, 

236. 
Babcock brook, 2. 
Bagg, Harriet, 300. 
Bagg Hall, 403. 
Bailey, Jonathan, 172. 

Joseph, 240. 

Rev. S. R., 177. 
Baker, Frederick M., 

193- 

James, 144. 

Joseph, 87, 213. 

Luke, 213. 
Baker's meadow, 2. 
Ball, Aaron, 86, 225. 

Daniel, 81. 

Rev. Mason, 175. 

Martin V., 191. 

Micah R., 198. 

Moses, 225. 

Nathan, 228. 

Samuel, 228, 241. 

William F., 198. 
Bangs, Josiah, 86. 
Baptists, 171-176. 
Baptist church sold, 

176. 
Barber, Andrew, 225, 

228. 
Barbour, Albert L., 217. 
Barker, Andrew, 228. 

John, 81, 196, 202, 
225, 228. 

415 



Barnard, George, 81, 
141, 142. 

Sarah, 141-143. 
Barnes, Silas, 172. 

William, 213. 
Bartlett, Charles A., 
364. 

John, 76, 85, 86, 244. 

Mary, 139, 141. 

Samuel, 144, 235, 258. 
Barre, 23, 30. 

Bassett, , 360. 

Bay Path, 12. 
Baxter, Charles, 261. 

Joseph, 87. 

Moses, 204. 

Richard, 81, 87, 225. 
Baxter's Quarter, 212. 
Beaman, Alfred, 190. 

A. T., 191, 192, 350, 

351- 
Ephraim, 142. 
Gamaliel, 172, 173,190. 
Henry C, 191, 192, 

351- 
Jonas, 85, 91, 190, 196, 

212, 228, 235, 241. 
Nabby, 177. 
Phineas, 81, 85, 90, 

204, 225. 
Phineas A., 191-193, 
326, 350-352, 354» 
368. 
Samuel B., 261. 
Silas, 87. 
Bell made by Paul 

Revere, 165. 
Bellows, Elijah, 85. 
Bemis, Jonathan, 36. 

Timothy, 96. 
Bernard, Francis, 56, 
78. 
Nathaniel, 225. 
Bible, 148. 

Bibliography of Prince- 
ton, 396-402. 



4i6 



Index 



BiGELOW, Abraham G., 
261. 

Elizabeth, 143. 

G. A., 199, 364. 

Rev. Increase B., 177. 

Samuel, 81, 232. 
Bill, Richard, 26, 27, 

30- 
Billings, Nathan, 57, 
81. 
Silas, 228. 
Timothy, 201, 204. 
Bird list, 392-395- 
BiXBY, Hannah, 39, 143. 

Samuel, 81, 130, 138. 
Blacksmith's shop, 90. 
Blagrove, Nathaniel, 

41, 44. 
Blagrove's farm, 41. 
Blake, Pynson, 167, 

358, 359- 
Blake & Allen, 359. 
Blanchard, C. a., 199. 
Bliss, George L., 198, 

351- 357- 
Blood, Robert, 27, 30. 
BoRDMAN, William, 228, 

258. 
Boston Rock, 10. 
Boundaries, 106. 
Bounty, 221, 222, 237. 
Bowen, John, 31, 41, 51, 

81, 204, 228, 238. 
Bovvker, Martin, 327. 

Micah, 81, 232. 
Bowman, Solomon, 232. 
Thaddeus, 81, 202, 
232. 
Boyd, F. A., 354. 
Boyden, Jabez, 232. 
Boyer, John K., 364. 
BoYLES, Charles E., 261. 
Frederick \V., 261. 
Henry, 192, 193, 379. 
Henry C., 261. 
Boyns, Philip, 204. 
BoYLSTON, John Lane, 
171, 174, 190, 197. 
Nicholas, 272. 
Rebecca, 272. 
Thomas, 272. 
Ward Nicholas, 190, 
192, 193, 278-280, 
326, 358. 



Bragg, H., 213. 
Braman, H. C., 357. 
Brattle, Rev. William, 

45- 
Brewer, Joseph and Ed- 
ward, 353. 
Briant, Isaac, 232. 
Bridge, Rev. H. M., 177. 

Robert, 43. 
Briggs, Rev. W. T., 171. 
Brigham, Abner, 14,212. 
Asa, 244, 258. 
Betty, 139, 141. 
John, 225, 228. 
Joseph D., 191. 
Moses, 228. 
Stephen, 76, 86,94, 97, 
100, 130, 138, 140, 
141, 196, 201, 212. 
Brigham cSc Derby, 354. 
Brinley, Francis, 26, 27. 
Brintnal, Thomas, 28, 

67. 
Brooks, Aaron, 203. 
Dr. Alpheus, 193, 214, 

364- 
Alphonso, 191, 192, 

194. 
Charles, 81, 86, 88, 

190, 192, 203, 204, 

212, 219, 224, 228, 

235- 
David, 86, 89, 163. 
Enoch, 81, 86, 90, 159, 

192, 193, 196, 202, 

213. 
Hannah, 336. 
Job, 202. 
John, 170, 182, 192, 

194, 197, 198, 211, 

214, 244, 267, 350, 

358. 
John Jr., 198. 
John H., 190. 
Jonas, 88, 177, 190, 

196, 212, 228. 
Jonas Jr., 190. 
Mary, 88. 
Orville C, 261. 
Reuben, 197, 358. 
Samuel, 177, 190. 
Thomas J., 
Wendell A., 193. 
William S., 191. 



Brooks Station P. 0., 

364- 
Brown, Benjamin, 30, 

36- 
James, 85, 89, 212, 

213,244,373. 
Jesse, 89, 218. 
William H., 191, 193, 
373- 

,47. 

Bryant, George, 262. 
John, 193. 
William H., 191. 
Buck, Eugene R., 19, 

198, 199. 
Buckminster, Rev. Mr., 

140, 142. 
Bulkley, John, 27, 30. 

Peter, 19, 27, 30. 
BULLARD, John, 36. 
Jonathan, 96, 202, 205. 
Moses, 190. 
Moses H., 191, 351. 
Samuel C, 351. 
BuRGOYNE captives, 242, 

243- 
BuRRiEL, Ebenezer, 47. 
Bullock, Calvin, 190, 

359- 
Burial Ground, first, 

369- 
Burke, Thomas J., 262. 
Bush, Abial, 81, 201. 
Buss, Fortunatus, 359. 
Butler, Mary, 335. 

Cadwill, Rev. John W., 

177- 

Calamint Hill, 205. 

Caldwell, Catharine B., 
301. 

Callahan, William, 
262. 

Candidates for preach- 
ing, 145- 

Care of meeting house, 

133- 
Cary, Ezra, of Sterling, 

326. 
Cemeteries, 369-372. 
Centre District, 206, 

207. 
Ch.\ir manufacturing, 

373. 374- 



Index 



417 



Chamberlain, Ebene- 
zer, Jr., 81. 
Eustis, 82, 225. 
Chandler, Gardner, 38. 
John, 85, 224, 233. 
Leonard, 193. 
Chapman, Adam, 172. 
Chase, Abel, 251. 
C. H., 191. 
Josiah, 86, 258. 
Cheever, Bartholomew, 
8d, 1^7, 213, 225, 
229, 235. 
Daniel, -86, 233, 244, 

258. 
Jacob, 229. 
Moses D., 192-194, 

364- 
Richard, 76, ^, 190, 

203. 
William D., 192, 197, 

203. 
Cheny, Tristram, 96, 

lOI. 

Childs, Benjamin, 81. 
Chittenden, Isaac, 86, 
88. 
L., 213. 
Choate, John, 47, 54. 
Choir, 134. 
Church organization, 4, 

135- 

Civil War, 260. 

Clap, Daniel, 81. 

Clark, Anthony, 81, 
204. 
Norman, 87, 196, 213, 

224, 228, 229. 
Willis H., 361. 

Clarke, Francis, 94. 
Rev. Samuel, 169, 174, 
214. 

Classical Schools, 211. 

Climate, 2. 

Cobb, Samuel, 213. 

Cobb brook, 2. 

CoLBURN, Ebenezer, 81, 
203, 225. 

Cole, Rev. John W., 177. 

CoLTON, Micah, 262. 
Thomas, 262. 

Conant, Samuel, 81. 

Congresses, revolution- 
ary, 227. 



Connecticut Path, 11. 
Cook, Rev. Albert A., 
177. 
Cyrus, 209. 
COOLIDGE, 36. 

CoPELAND, Asa, 225. 
Eliphalet, 87, 172, 173. 
Moses, 359. 

CoPLiN, Eliphaz, 244. 

Corbett, Michael, 262. 

Covenant, 137, 147. 

CowDiN, Elizabeth, 88. 
John, 81. 

Robert, 76, 94, 97, 100, 
130, 180, 183, 190, 
192, 196, 203, 204, 
218, 229, 235, 239, 
356, 357- 

CovvLES, Rev. John P., 
170. 

Crafts, Thomas, 85, 
160, 235. 

Crawford, Luther, 192. 

Crosby, Harry D., 378. 

Cunningham, Rev. Or- 
lando, 175. 

Curtis, James, 192, 225, 
228, 229. 
Mary, 85. 

CusHiNG, Rev. Stephen, 

177- 
Thomas, 47. 
CusHMAN, Levi, 191, 198. 
Cutter, Benjamin, 229. 
Josiah, 229. 
Nathaniel, 81, 225. 
Nathaniel, Jr., 229. 
Cutting, Josiah, 86, 89, 
190, 197. 

D.\DMAN, Samuel, 85, 89, 

190, 212. 
Dairy, 3. 
Dana, Caleb, 107, 192, 

197, 214. 
John, 89, 190-192. 
Danforth, Theodore 

W., 262. 
Darling, Timothy, 229. 
Darrow, Alicia, 278. 
Davenport, Addington, 

19- 
Davidson, George, 229. 
Joseph, 225. 



Davis, Austin, 197. 

Clarence W., 191. 

Daniel, 359, 364, Mrs. 
Daniel, 368. 

David, 258, 297-299. 

Ephraim, 244. 

Isaac, 229. 

John G., 197. 

Rev. Joseph, 136, 140, 
357, 358. 

Josiah, 81, 87, 88, 212, 
225, 356- 357. 
J. P., 213. 

Mary, 143. 

Micah, 229. 

Olcon, 185, 229. 

Oliver, 76-78, 87, 94, 
97, 100, 130, 180, 
190, 196, 203-205, 
213, 218, 225, 240, 

258, 374- 
Peter, 218. 
Rufus, 170. 
Rufus Jr., 191, 193. 
Samuel, 87, 88, 205, 

229. 
Simon, 61, 190, 205, 

212. 
Solomon, 86, 162, 196. 
Wayland C, 191, 193, 

351, 357- 
Wilkes, 262. 

Day, John E., 351. 

Dead Mare meadow, 29. 

De Aulany, Due, 43, 
III. 

Dean, Francis, 225. 

Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, 221. 

Decoration of meeting 
house, 164. 

Demond, Rev. Elijah, 
170. 

Derby, Gilbert A., 351, 
357. 

Deer, 4. 

Delano, Henry C, 191, 
378. 

"DiNNERiNG the minis- 
ter," 126. 

Dire, Nathan, 85. 

Distances from Prince- 
ton Centre, 377. 



4i8 



Index 



District of Prince 
Town, 8, 92. 

District meeting, first, 
181. 

Districts, 202. 

DoBBS, Rev. Abram S., 
177. 

DoDD, John, 173, 197. 
Rufus, 196. 
William, 81, 84, 85, 
190-192, 196, 199, 
208, 212, 214, 225, 
229, 258, 356, 357. 

Doherty, George E., 

351- 
Domestic animals, 3. 
Donnelly, Patrick, 262. 
DooLiTTLE, Benjamin C, 
191, 198, 199. 
Ephraim, 228. 
P. C, 361, 368, 369. 
DooRLATCHES made by 

James Ellis, 243. 
Dramatic Club, 378. 
Dresser, Moses, 143. 
Oliver, 81, 203, 233. 
Drought, John, 262. 
Drury, Daniel, 64. 
DuBLETT, an Indian, 17. 
Dudley, Paul, 19, 21, 
27, 29. 
William, 19, 21, 30, 47. 
DuMMER, Gov., 63. 
Duncan, Charles, 94. 
DusTiN, Alexander, 376. 
Dunham, Rev. Rowland 

C, 177. 
Dwelly, Alexander, 208. 

Eager, P., 233. 
George, 262. 
Moses, 81, 203. 
Paul, 81, 204. 
Early settlements in 
Massachusetts, 9. 
settlers, 74. 
Earthquakes and light- 
ning rods, 112. 
Easterbrooks, Samuel, 

81. 
East Wachusett Brook, 

2. 
East Wing, 23, 102. 
Easterly District, 203. 



Ecclesiastical history, 

122. 
Eddy, Jonathan, 225. 
Edgel, William, 204. 
Edgell, John, 360. 
Edson, Marshall A., 217. 
Education, 200. 
Edwards, Alfred, 262. 

Joshua, 27, 30. 
Electric lighting, 5, 

369. 
Elevations, i. 
Ellery, Elizabeth, 87. 
Elliott, Eben S., 262. 

Erastus, 262. 
Ellis, James, 85, 242, 

243- 
Emerson, Rev. John H., 

177. 
English and Classical 

High Schools, 211, 

214. 
Envelopes, invention of, 

363- 
Estabrook, Alvin E., 

262. 
Edward C, 262. 
Joseph T., 262, 268. 
J. Wheeler, 262. 
Samuel Jr., 233. 
Washington, 357. 
EusTis, Chamberlain, 

228, 229. 
Eveleth, Abishai, 90. 
Albert J., 199. 
David, 76. 
Ephraim, 172. 
George M., 262. 
Joab, 322. 
John, 236, 244. 
Joseph, 76-78, 81, 86, 

94, 97, 100, 126, 131, 

158, 180, 190, 192, 

193. 196, 202, 203, 

235- 
Joshua, 89, 172, 190. 
Nabby, 322. 
Widow, 213. 
William H., 263, 268. 
Everett, Alvin, 173. 
David, 133, 203, 225, 

228, 229, 280-293. 
Erastus, 332, 333. 
Rev. F. A., 177. 



Everett, Israel, 172, 

192, 193, 206. 
Joshua, 85, 90, 233. 
Joshua, Jr., 172, 244. 
Joshua T., 172, 190, 

192, 193. 
Mandell G., 263. 
Samuel, 172. 
Susanna, 87. 
William, 90, 172, 173, 

190, 244. 
William Stillman, 173, 

192. 
Exploration, 10. 

Fairbanks, Henry, 360. 
Farmers' Club, 379. 

F.A.RMS, 3. 

"Farms adjoining, " the, 

34- 95- 
Farnsworth, John, 19, 

30. 
Farrington, Elijah, 
225, 229. 
Ichabod, 240. 
Farrar, Nathan, 205. 
Farrow, Mathew, 203. 
Fasset, Jonathan, 233. 
Father Ralles war, 24. 
Fay, Arthur, E., 193. 
B., 198. 
John B., 192. 
Myron H., 263, 268. 
Silas, 85, 176, 196, 

212, 225, 233, 357. 
S. Jr., 213. 
Fayerweather, Han- 
nah, 27, 29. 
Felton, John, 87. 
Ferguson, Rev. Edwin 
C, 177- 
Patrick, 263. 
Fernside, 354. 
Ferrington, Samuel, 

228. 
Fessenden, Timothy, 

172. 
First Parish, 170. 
Fisher, Gideon, 76, 78, 
180, 183, 185. 
Ichabod, 82, 86, 213, 

225, 228, 229. 
Jesse, 87, 228, 229, 
240, 258. 



Index 



419 



FiSK, Rev. Franklin, 177. 
FiSKE, Jonathan, 97, 

205. 
Fitch, Thomas, 19, 28. 
Flora, 380-391. 
FoLGER, George, F., 191, 

193. 197, 198, 364- 
Food prices, 162. 
Forbes, Robert, 203, 

218. 
Forbush, Robert, 76, 

94, 97, 100, 204. 
FosKETT, Asaph, 172. 
Daniel, Jr., 172. 
David, 172. 
Simon, 172. 
Foster, James, 172. 
John, 30. 

Joseph, 14, 18, 27, 28. 
William, 82, 202. 
FowLE, Curtis, 225, 228, 
229. 
John, 229, 238. 
Franklin, Viah, 244. 
Free mail delivery, 363. 
Freemasonry, 375. 
French War, 31. 
French and Indian War, 

218. 
Frost, John, 38, 41, 76, 

loi, 201, 204, 229. 
Fruit trees, 3. 
Fuller, Elizabeth, diary 
of, 302, 362. 
Rev. Timothy, 61, 82, 
86, 146, 149-156, 
192, 202, 322, 325. 

Gale, Abraham, 190, 
225, 228, 229, 246, 

247. 356. 357- 
Amos, 233, 258, 356, 

357- 
Betty, 255. 
Elisha, 57, 82, 196, 

202, 224, 239, 258, 

269. 
Elizabeth, 255. 
Henry, 36, 82, 96, 229, 

246, 248, 249, 251, 

253- 
Jonas, 255. 
Josiah, 258. 
Luther, 143. 



Gardner, Rev. Andrew, 
37. 38, 63. 
Daniel, 38, 82, 229. 
Stephen P., 361. 
Gardner's farms, 37. 
Gardner's brook, 39. 
Garfield, Moses, 38,76. 
Gates, Aaron, 213. 
Geary, David, 85. 

Jonathan, 82, 224, 
228, 229, 238. 
Geographical position, 

I. 
Geology, 5. 
George, Rev. Nathan 

D., 177- 
Gerould, Jabez, 82, 
225, 229, 240. ■ 
Mary (Everett), 281. 
Gerrish, Joseph, 47. 
GiBBS, Daniel, 225, 229. 
Elisha, 225. 
Hannah, 142. 
Joseph, 76-78, 94. 97. 
100, 130, 138-140, 
142, 180, 183, i8g, 

196, 203, 205, 218, 
225, 229, 356, 357. 

Theodore, 258. 
William, 76, 141, 201, 
202, 213. 
Gibbons, Maj., 42. 
Gifts to church, 171. 
Gill, Charles W., 263. 
Emery W., 193, 198, 

263, 268. 
John, 86. 
Micah, 86, 192, 213, 

247. 
Michael, 233,356, 357. 
Moses, 30, 82, 85, 91, 

96, 131. 135. H7. 
156, 163, 192, 194, 

197, 202, 213, 239, 
270-277; Inventory, 
274; 326, 357, 364, 

369- 

Rebecca, 272. 

Sarah Prince. 272. 
Gill, town of, 277. 
Gleason, Addison, 263. 

Dexter F., 263. 

Elizabeth, 139, 141. 

Ezra, 76, 213. 



Gleason, Jesse, 225, 229. 
John, 86, 88, 202. 
Mrs. John, 233. 
Thomas, 87, 89, 196, 
213, 225. 
Goddard, Asa H., 191- 
193, 198. 
W'arren, 214. 
Going, Rev. Jonathan, 

174. 
Goldsmith, Rev. Alfred, 

171.358. 
GooDNOW, Anne, 139, 

142, 143- 
Edward, 87, 196, 213, 

233- 357. 
Edward Augustus, 

190, 299-301. 
Erasmus D., 191, 360. 
Lois, 89. 
Lieut., 34. 
Moses C, 192, 352. 
Peter, 76,96, 130, 138, 

142, 144, 183, 184, 

192, 196, 202, 213. 
Timothy, 82, 225, 229. 
William B., 191, 192, 

193, 198. 
William F., 263. 

GooDNOW Memorial Li- 
brary, 403. 

Goodrich, Rev. Heze- 
kiah, 161. 

Goodridge, Sewall, 144. 

Goodwin, Rev. John, 
177. 

Gore, the, 31. 

Gould, Moses, 244. 

Graham, Mary, 205. 

Grand Army Post, No. 
99, 268. 

Grand View House, 351. 

Grant, Thomas, 229, 
238. 

Graves, Rev. Frederic 
B., 177- 

Gray, Daniel, 230. 

Green, Abel, 263. 
Bartholomew, 65. 
Thomas, 45. 

Green Dragon Tavern, 
Boston, 21. 

Greenwood, John, art- 
ist, 116. 



420 



Index 



Gregory, Charles, 240. 

C, 213. 

Elisha, 90, 204. 
David H., 191, 192; 

letter, 267; 364. 

D. H. Company, 364. 
Isaac, 233. 

Josiah D., 191, 364, 

372. 
Phineas, 82, 86, 90, 
196, 204, 213, 225, 
228, 230, 236. 
Phineas E., 192, 198. 
Raymond J., 191, 364, 
392. 
Griffin, John, 215. 
Joseph, 172. 
Warren, 356. 
Grimes, Edwin, 168, 353. 
Grimes House, 353. 
Grotte, Heinrich, 263. 
Grout, Edgar H., 217. 
Guild, David, 173. 
GuiLLO, Henry, 263. 
Guy, Clifton, 199. 

Hadley, Joseph H., 193. 
Hager, Abraham, 85, 

233- 

Hale, Reuben, 88. 

Hallowell, Benjamin, 
278. 
Mary (Boylston), 278. 

Hancock, John, 251. 

Hannaford, Rev. Jos- 
eph L., 177. 

Hapgood, Joel, 359. 
Thomas, 225, 230. 

Harding, Rev. Willard 
M., 171, 352. 

Hardy, Elijah, 225. 
Simon, 172. 

Harmon, Thomas, 125, 
184. 

Harrington, Abel, 225, 

230. 

Abijah, 82, 85, 90, 91, 

135. 190, 204, 212, 

224, 228, 230, 235, 

239- 
A. L., 354. 
A. R. E., 353. 
Benjamin, 190, 192, 

244. 



Harrington, B., 213, 

244. 
Isaac, 230. 
Jonas, 96, 201, 204. 
Joseph C, 193, 353. 
Moses, 82, 85, 225, 

230. 
Simon, 122, 123. 
Stephen, 80, 82, 196, 

204, 225. 
Uriah, 230. 
Harrington Farm, 353. 
Harris, Asa, 82, 87. 
John D., 244, 263. 
Levi, 244. 
Luke, 230. 
Zachariah Jr., 233. 
Harthan, Charles H., 

263, 268. 
Hartwell, Edward, 71. 
Edward E., 379. 
Ephraim, 82, 94, 100, 

192, 196, 203, 204, 

224, 226, 228, 230, 

240. 
Isaac, 87. 
James, 190, 191. 
Jonas, 193. 
Joseph, 192, 240. 
Hartwell's farm, 68. 
Harvey, Zachariah, 45, 

76, 77, 80, 96, 127, 

130, 131, 139, 142, 

180-189, I9i~i93. 

^2>3> 237, 239, 355, 

356. 
Hastings, Anne, 139, 

141. 
Charles, 230. 
EliasO., 191, 193, 263. 
Ezra, 244. 
James, 86. 
Rebecca, 322. 
Samuel, 77, 86, 96, 

135, 138, 140, 162, 

163, 181, 182, 183, 

190, 196, 197, 208, 

220, 224, 225. 
Samuel, Jr., 196, 213. 
Solon S., 191-193. 
Hatch, Estes, 26, 28, 30. 

Samuel, 27. 
Haven, Rev. Moses, 

157. 



Ha WES, Daniel, 240. 

David, 228. 
Hay scales, 359. 
Hayman, Nathan, 44. 
Haynes, Aaron, 235, 236. 
Joseph, 82, 87, 138, 

146. 
Josiah, 192, 196, 202. 
Samuel, 87. 
Health, 4. 

Herron, William, 263. 
Hewes, Alpheus, 225. 
Hey, James S., 263. 
Hinds, Eli, 87. 
Historical Dates, 404- 

414. 
Hoar, Adonijah, 235. 
G. F., 346. 
John, 346. 
HoBBS, Ebenezer, 244. 
Elisha, 82, 86, 91, 135, 

190, 196, 204. 
Elisha Jr., 196, 225. 
John, 213. 
John H., 191. 
Micah, 351. 
Moses, 190, 193. 
Samuel, 198. 
Silas, 87. 
Hogg, John, 263. 
Hogney, George, 244. 
HoLBROOK, David, 86. 
Holden, Benjamin, 82, 
87, 88, 130, 193, 
196, 203, 205, 213, 
218, 220, 226, 230, 
235. 240, 241, 258. 
Henry, 263, 268. 
Joel, 244. 
Holden's Quarter, 212. 
Holland, John, 250. 
HoLMAN, Charles, 263. 
"Honest Lawyer," the, 

281. 
Horne, Charles E. and 

Thomas, 355. 
Horse sheds, 135. 
HosLEY, Joseph, 225, 

230. 
HosMER, John G., 263. 
Houghton, Abel, 87. 
Benjamin, 38, 61, 73, 

82, 92, 96. 
Charles A., 193, 198. 



Index 



421 



Houghton, Ezra, loi. 
Herbert P., 191-193, 

369- 
Joel, 96, 204. 
Silas, 82. 
Thankful, 89. 
How, Abner, 82, 85, 90, 

135, 138, 140, 190, 

192, 202, 213, 224. 
Adonijah, 82, 85, 90, 

145, 147, 156, 162, 

163, 168, 190, 193, 

226, 228. 
Antipas, 87, 89, 203, 

212. 
Artemas, 190, 191, 

193. 213- 
Daniel, 82, 192. 
Eliphalet, 77, 78, 94, 

96, 100, 126, 130, 
131, 180, 185, 189, 
203, 205, 218, 326. 

Eunice, 21. 

Ezekiel, 205. 

Isaac, 85. 

Lucy, 139. 

Moses, 21. 

Peabody, 78, 82, 86, 
88, 94, 97, 100, 190, 
208, 224. 

Sarah, 139. 

Thomas, 18, 19, 21, 27, 
29. 

William, 172, 173, 190. 
Howard, Asa, 172. 

Josiah, 172. 

Nathaniel, 19. 

Nelson S., 191, 352. 
Howe, Abner, 196, 224. 

Albert C, 191, 193, 

215. 357. 379- 
Daniel, 351. 
David, 225. 
Rev. George M., 171. 
Joseph M., 264, 268. 
Josiah D., 358. 
Levi H., 360. 
Luther B., 264. 
Nathan B., 198. 
N. R., 191, 198. 
Oscar, 198. 
William R., 191, 264, 

352, 354- 
Howard House, 352. 



HoYT, Asa, 225. 

Benjamin, 87. 

David, 87, 212, 244. 
Hubbard, Charles H., 
368. 

Ephraim, 205. 

Rev. Ebenezer, 150. 

Rev. George, 157. 

Lucy, 177. 

T., 94, 96. 

W. B., 199. 
Hubbardston, 23, 30. 
Hudson, Reuben, 230. 
Hunt, John, 244. 
Hutchinson, Arthur E., 
217. 

Thomas, 19, 20. 
Hutchinson, see Barre. 

Ice business, 368. 

Incorporation, 92. 

Indian deed, 14. 

Indian massacre at Rut- 
land, 66. 

Indian tribes, 10. 

Ingersoll, Mr., 47. 

Innholders and tav- 
erns, 355. 

Instruction in schools, 
208. 

Jackson, Herbert A., 

361. 
Jardner meadow, 2. 
Jewett, Samuel, 82. 
Samuel J., 198, 199, 

364- 
Zenas, 172. 
Johnson, Edward, 68, 69. 
Rev. Charles T., 177. 
Rev. Elias, 174. 
Joseph, 70. 
William, 70, 240. 
William 2d, 264. 
Johnson's farm, 68. 
Jones, Ebenezer, 77, 96, 
104, 130, 135, 138, 
140, 144, 190, 193, 
196, 202, 219, 220, 
224, 230, 235, 238, 

355- 
Elisha, 203. 
Ephraim, 225, 230, 

235- 



Jones, Isaac, 96, 202. 
John, 82, 89, 96, 193, 
202-204, 220, 224, 
226, 228, 230; letter 
to wife, 242. 
Jonathan, 96. 
Lemuel, 36, 96. 
Nathan, 87, 225, 230. 
Thomas, 196. 
Jones meadow, 2. 
JosLYN, Silas, 87. 
JoYNER, Edward, 38, 82. 
William, 38, 77, 96, 

lOI. 

"Joy rides," 350. 

Kelly, Daniel S., 264, 

268. 
Kendall, Flora, 217. 

Isaac, 225, 228, 230. 

J. Warren, 264. 

Samuel, 225. 

Warren, 215. 

, 158. 

Keyes, Amos H., 198. 

Anna, 329. 

Atwood B., 191, 198. 

Cyprian, 82, 196, 233, 
258. 

David, 225. 

Ephraim, 212, 244. 

Ezra, 359. 

Ezra S., 191. 

George E., 264. 

Henry P., 193, 198. 

Israel, 86, 212, 230, 
236, 258. 

John, 85, 212. 

Jonas, 90, 141, 172, 
201, 224, 230, 235. 

Jonathan, 196. 

Lucretia, 141. 

Lucy, 326-337. 

Patience, 139, 143. 

Patty, 329. 

Peabody, 230, 258. 

Prudence, 143. 

Robert, 77, 85, 96, 
126, 130, 131, 138, 
139. 183, 190, 201, 
204, 325, 327, 329; 
petition to General 
Court, 331-334- 

Silas, 205, 212. 



422 



Index 



Keyes, Solomon, 196. 
Thomas, 233. 
Timothy, 78, 82, 94, 
97, 100, 130, 138- 
140, 142. 
KiLBURN, Calvin, 87, 88, 

212, 233, 236. 
King Philip, 346. 
KiRBON, John, 361. 
Michael, 215. 
Thomas, 215. 
Kneeland, Samuel, 64. 
Kneeland's farm, 64. 
Knight, Jonathan, 100. 
Knowles, George H., 
217. 

"Laborer's Friend," 

newspaper, 5. 
Lack, James, 242, 243. 
Lakin, Abel, 361. 
Lamb, Major, 358. 
Land, 3. 

Land purchases, 12. 
Lee, Henry, 26. 
Levally, Godfrey, 264. 
Lewis, Dr. E. S., 369. 
George, 176. 
Rev. Joseph W., 177. 
Library, 4. 
Lighting, 5, 368. 
Lightning strokes, 177. 
Lincoln, George W., 

264. 
Litchfield, Rev. Paul, 

157. 159- 
Little Wachusett, i. 
Littlejohn, Hannah, 

139. 141- 

Marah, 143. 

Thomas, 335. 

Tilly, 77, 96, 131, 135, 
138, 140, 183, 190, 
201, 204, 224, 333, 
335; epitaph, 337; 
chronology, 338, 

339- 
LiVERMORE, Aaron, 244. 

Jonathan, 125, 184. 
LOKER, Andrew J., 264, 
268. 
Loren, 264. 
LORING, Charles E., 264. 
Rev. Israel, 45. 



LoRiNG, Joseph, 264. 

Leander, 264. 
Lost child, 326-337. 
LoTHROP, Isaac, 47. 
Love, Rev. Archibald S., 
171. 

Charles T., 264. 
LovELL, Rev. Nehemiah 

G., 175- 
Lyceum, 378. 
Lyon, Alanson, 85. 

Asa of Hubbardston, 
172. 

Seth, 85. 

Simeon, 82. 

Mahan, Thomas, 264. 
Malcolm, William, 264. 
Maley, John E., 198. 
Manufactures, 4. 
Marble, John, 85. 
Marcou, J. B., 193, 369. 
Marini, Paul, 264. 

George, 265. 
Markers for Soldiers, 

235- 
Market wagons, 359. 
Martin, George, 265. 
Mason, Henry A., 193, 
368. 

James, 265. 

John, 244. 

John B., 191. 

Joseph, 190, 192, 193. 

Lemuel, 172. 

Sadey, 77, 78, 87, 88, 
94, 97, 100, 130, 
180, 183, 185, 190, 
192, 193, 196, 201, 
203, 205, 218, 220, 
241, 258. 

Samuel F., 326. 

Silas, 87, 173, 213. 

Thomas, 77, 78, 87, 88, 
94, 97, 100, 130, 180, 
192, 196, 203, 205, 
212, 228, 230, 236. 

William, 196. 
Matthews, Foster E., 

373-, 
Franklin E., 265. 
Francis E., 265, 268. 
Joel, 141. 
John, 244. 



Matthews, Lucy, 139, 

141, 143, 145, 
Paul, 77, 86, 96, 135, 

141, 158, 183, 190, 

202, 230, 244. 
Mayflower, 4. 
M ayhew. Experience, 59. 
Mayhew's farm, 58. 
Maynard, Artemas, 82, 

233- 

Azor, 196. 

Charles H., 265, 268. 

Jabez, 230, 240. 

Joe, 360. 
McAllester, Reuben, 

230. 
McKernan, Michael, 

265. 
McKinley, David, 265. 
McMallen, William, 

230. 
McMillan, Samuel, 

230, 238. 
McQuade, Thomas, 265. 
McWiLLiAMS, George, 

265. 
Mead, Jabez, 77, 230. 
Meadow land area, 2. 
Meadow lots, 28-30. 
Meeting house, 162, 
163. 

first, 123, 128. 
Mellen, Rev. Mr., 140. 
Meriam, Amos, 86, 162, 
163, 190, 193, 212. 

Clark, 198. 

J. Edwin, 193. 

Joel, 172. 

John N., 265. 

Joseph, 192. 

Marchal, 192. 

Nathan, 192. 

Widow, 213. 
Meriam family, 60. 
Methodist church, 176, 

177; burned, 177. 
Mexican War, 260. 
Middle District, 202. 
Miles, Nabby, 321. 
MiLBURY, Mr., 47. 
Miller, Edward P., 265. 

John, 172. 

Joseph, 125, 184. 
Miller place, 206. 



Index 



423 



Mines, 3. 

MiNOT, , 202. 

Minute men, 223, 224. 

MiRiCK, Caleb, 77, 86, 
89, 96, 104, 125, 
126, 130, 133, 138, 
140, 142, 154, 183, 
185, 190, 192, 196, 
202, 224, 226, 244, 

258- 356, 357- 
Caleb S., 191, 192. 
Charles, 88, 190, 193, 

194, 197, 213, 214, 

244. 
Charles A., 191. 
Clark, 190. 

Dorothy, 86, 139, 141. 
Ephraim, 72, 85, 90, 

143, 190, 192, 193, 

213, 225. 
Ephraim Jr., 90, 173, 

190, 192. 
Ethel R., 217. 
Eunice, 139, 141. 
E., 2d, 213. 
George, 265. 
George L., 265. 
George Waldo, 265. 
Harvey C, 265, 268. 
James, 19, 193, 196, 

202, 230. 
James Jr., 82, 96, 130, 

138, 139, 183, 190, 

356, 357- 
John, 36, 86, 96, 172, 

174, 184, 190, 196, 

202, 230, 244. 
John Jr., 172, 173, 190. 
John A., 191. 
John D., 268. 
John W., 190. 
Josiah, 82, 196, 202, 

225, 228, 230. 

J. c. P., 191,355- 

Lucretia, 322. 
Pamelia, 322. 
Paul M., 191, 193. 
Ruth, 86, 89. 
Sewall, 190, 192, 215, 

225. 
Sewall G., 192. 
Stephen, 90, 162, 172, 

190, 212, 233, 236, 

244. 



MiRiCK & Russell, 361. 
MiRicK,JohnD.,G.A.R. 

Post 99, 268. 
Mitchell, Thomas, 242, 

243- 
"Monadnock," Whit- 
tier's poem, 348- 

349- 

Moody, George B., 265. 

Moore, Abijah, 77, 96, 
126, 138, 140, 181, 
183, 184, 189, 192, 

230. 327- 355- 

Boaz, 77, 87, 94, 97, 
100, 104, 126, 130, 
190, 191, 192, 194, 
203, 204, 218, 219, 
226, 228, 230, 236, 
241,244,248,356. 

Eunice, 139, 141. 

Humphrey, 82, 87, 
192, 204, 228, 230. 

Jacob, 196. 

John, 193. 

Widow Mary, 213. 

Molly, 88. 

Uriah, 86, 162, 196, 
230, 236, 258. 

Willard, 226, 230. 
Moore's tavern, 181. 
Morse, Rev. Appleton, 

175- 
Jacob, 82, 203, 225, 

228, 230, 247. 
Joshua, 230. 
William G., 354, 357. 
MosMAN, Abel, 225, 231. 
Joshua, 38, 225, 231. 
Oliver, 225, 231, 238, 

245- 
Samuel, 135, 138, 140, 
189, 196, 201, 204, 
225. 
Timothy, 238. 
Timothy Jr., 201, 233. 
William, 204. 
Mount Adams, celebra- 
tion, 347. 
Mount Pleasant House, 

352. 
Mount Wachusett res- 
ervation, 354. 
Mountain House, 351. 
Mountain laurel, 4. 



Mudge, Joseph, 233. 
Mundon, Ephraim, 173. 
MuNjov, Benjamin, 173. 

John, 85. 

Nathan, 244. 
Munroe, Reuben, 89. 

Timothy, 234. 
MuRDOCK, Henry E., 
199. 

Rev. James, 167, 208. 

J- 213. 
Murray, Joshua, 185. 
MuscoPAUG pond, 14, 

15- 
Muzzy, Benjamin, 45, 

46, 327. 
Ephraim, 205. 
William, 77, 78, 94, 

97, 100, 130, 180, 

190, 193, 196, 203, 

234- 
Muzzy's farm, 45. 
Mynan, Jabez, 228. 

Name, 5. 

Natural products, 3. 

Napper, Thomas, 228, 

231. 
Needham, Everett W., 

355- 
Newspaper, 5. 
New Way, 11. 
Newton, Artemas, 258. 
Charles, 86, 88. 
Joel, 244. 
Jonathan, 231. 
Uriah, 82, 87, 196, 
203, 205, 212, 225, 
228, 231, 258. 
Nichols, 82, 96, 183, 

196. 
Nicklin, Rev. Charles, 

177. 
NiPMUCK Territory, 12. 
Nipnet or Nipmuc coun- 
try, 9- 
Noon, Rev. John, 177. 
Norcross, Ephraim, 
231, 241. 
Isaac, 204, 225, 231. 
Jacob, 85, 224, 231. 
Joseph, 82, 138, 140, 

202. 
Noah, 138, 140, 204. 



424 



Index 



NoRCRoss, Ruth, 139, 
141. 

Sarah, 139, 141. 

Northeasterly Dis- 
trict, 204. 

No Town, 107. 

NouRSE, Joshua, 218. 

NusucK, Ruth, an In- 
dian, 60. 

Nutting, David, 225. 

Oakham, 23, 30. 
Oaks, Sylvanus, 83, 225, 

231. 
Oldham, John, 11, 
Oliver, A., 103. 

T., 96. 
Ordination of Mr. Mur- 

dock, 168. 
Organ, 171. 

OsBORN, Jonathan, 231. 
Osgood, David, 205. 
Ephraim, 83, 90, 193, 

204. 
Houghton, 90, 215, 

244. 
Oliver, 191, 193. 
Oulton, Jonathan, 28, 
29. 

Packard, Eleazer, 225, 

228, 231. 
Padgham, Edward A., 

353- 
Page, George E., 265. 
Paine, Rev. Benjamin, 

176, 177- 
Paint for meeting house, 

133- 
Park, Benjamin, 86. 

Daniel, Jr., 225. 
Parker, Abner G., 108. 
Daniel, 190. 
David, 77, 203, 204. 
Ebenezer, 190-192, 

234, 236, 258, 356. 
Ebenezer, Jr., 190, 

192. 
Francis, 57. 
Frederick, 191-193. 
George R., 265. 
George W., 265. 
Henry A., 265, 268. 
Isaac, 224, 228, 231. 



Parker, John, 86, 88. 

Levi, 231, 241. 

Moses, 19, 27, 29, 30. 

Nehemiah, 234, 236. 

Philemon, 86. 

Quincy, 196, 197, 244. 

Solomon, 204. 

Solomon P., 83, 244. 

Thomas, 85, 356. 

William, 193, 212. 

W. K., 364. 
Parker Burial Ground, 

371. 
Parkhurst, Daniel, 231. 
George, 83, 196, 202, 

231. 
William, 225, 231. 
Parmenter, Charles, 83, 
87, 97, 204. 
Levi, 143, 286. 
Luther, 86, 225, 231, 

238. 
Reuben, 83, 86, 213, 
226. 
Parsonage, 167. 
Partridge, Daniel W., 
266. 
Dr., 353- 
Lyman, 374. 
Lyman F., 266. 
Warren, 192. 
Patterson, Andrew, 83, 

225, 234. 
Paxton, 30. 
Peder, D. a., 199. 
Pemberton, James, 30. 
Pensions, 236, 237. 
Perkins, John, 361, 379. 
Perry, Aaron, 77, 86, 
96, 130, 196, 203, 
213, 322. 
Anna, 322. 
Elisha, 172. 
Nathan, 172, 213, 321, 

322. 
Silas, 321. 
Pews, chosen, 131; sold, 

164. 
Pew owners, 130. 
Phelps, James, 190. 
Joseph, 83, 203, 212, 
224, 356, 357- 
Phillips, Rev. Alonzo, 
80, 170. 



Phillips, Jonathan, 225. 
Pierce, Jonas, 225, 231. 

Samuel, 125, 184. 
Pine Hill, i. 
Pine Hill House, 353. 
Pinkham, George R., 

217. 
Pitacum, Indian, 14, 15. 
Plaisted, Thomas, 47, 

48, 57, 59- 

Plympton, Silas, 203. 

Polls, 6. 

Pompomamay, Indian, 
14. 

Ponds, 2. 

Porter, Rev. George, 
176. 

Population, 4. 

Postage rates, 362. 

Postmasters and Post- 
offices, 361. 

Potash farm, 46. 

Poutwater, 24. 

Powers, Amos, 83, 94, 
96, 183, 202. 
John, 213. 

Jonathan, 96, 201, 204, 
225, 231. 

Pownall, Gov., 96, 103. 

Pratt, Antemas E., 198. 
Charles F., 364. 
George E., 191, 198, 

379- 
Harriet, 353. 
I. E., 191, 193. 
H. v., 364. 
Joel, 376. 
John D., 376. 
Pratt's Cottage, 353. 
Prentice, Henry, 167, 

190, 213, 244. 
Presbyterian Church, 

169. 
Prescott, Benjamin, 27, 

30- 
Jonathan, 21. 
Preston, John, 266. 
Prince Library, 117. 
Prince, Rev. Thomas, 

26, 27; gift to, 28; 

biography, 109-121. 
Princeton established, 

102. 
Princeton Club, 378. 



Index 



425 



Princeton Inn, 176, 

351- 
Princeton Plan, 33. 
Princeton Post Offices 

in U. S., 365. 
Princeton as a summer 

resort, 350. 
Prospect House, 176, 

351- 
Protest, 97, 131. 

against town action, 78. 
against Dr. Harvey, 
180. 
Prout, Mr., 47. 
Psalms, 113. 
PuAGASTioN, Indian, 14. 
Purchases from the In- 
dians, 13. 
Putnam, William, 45. 

Quarries, 3. 
Queen Anne's War, 15. 
Quinapoxet pond, 2. 
QuiGLEY, Thomas, 266. 
QuiNCY, Edmund, 47. 
Quinlan, Jerry, 266. 
Quota, 237. 

Railroads, 365-368. 

Rainfall, 3. 

Raising of meeting 

house, 126, 164. 
Ralf, Edward, 87. 

Stephen, 86. 
Ralle, Father, 63. 
Ralph, Susanna, 89. 
Ramer, John, 85. 

Thomas, 85. 
Randall, Joseph, 266. 

Samuel, 178. 
Rawson, Edward, 69. 
Ray, Abel, 38, 77, 96, 
138, 140, 183, 201. 

Asa, 234. 
Raymond, Daniel, 231. 

William, 83, 203. 
Raymore, E., 212. 

Edward, 91. 

James, 231. 

John, 231. 

Jonas, 231. 

Thomas, 83, 91, 231. 
Rebellion, recapitula- 
tion, 261. 
Records, lost, 179. 



Redemption Rock, 345; 
purchase by G. F. 
Hoar, 346. 
Reed, Benjamin, 87. 
Charles W, 191, 373. 
Joel, 213. 

Joseph A., 197, 356. 
Joseph P., 266, 268. 
Nathan B., 191, 193. 
N., 213. 
Reeves, Rev. Charles 

E., 171. 
Rejoinder, 98. 
Religious Freedom Act, 

170. 
Religious organization, 

4- 
Resolutions, revolu- 
tionary, 219. 
Revolutionary War, 

218. 
Rice, Asa, 87, 172, 205. 
David, 86, 90, 190, 

192, 247, 356. 
Elijah, 87. 
Henry, 83. 
Isaac, 244. 
Joel, 85, 202. 
Jonah, 172. 
Luther, 225. 
Mary, 89. 
Solomon, 86, 247. 
William, 85. 
Richards, Belcher, 83, 
205. 
Mary, 161. 
Richardson, H. C, 191. 
Josiah, 172, 244. 
Lucy, 172. 
Moses, 234. 
Peter, 357. 
Samuel, 85, 197, 240, 

244. 
Sewall, 192, 193. 
William, 52, 58, 83, 
86, 189, 190, 196, 
213,214,355,358. 
Rider, Eleazer, 225. 
Riley, James, 266. 
Robbins, Philemon, 225, 
231. 
Samuel, 87. 
Samuel, Jr., 225, 228, 
231. 



Robinson, Charles, 266. 

James, 204. 
Rogers, Eliphalet, 83, 

85, 225, 231. 
Rolph, Rev. John, 212. 

Solomon, 89, 172, 225. 

Stephen, 77, 204. 

Susannah, 280. 
Roper, Benjamin, 85, 

234- 
Edward R., 266, 268. 
Francis, 266, 268. 
Ephraim, 225, 228, 

231. 
Eugene D., 193. 
John, 192, 234, 244. 
Manasseh, 225. 
Samuel, 374. 
William M., 191, 217. 
Wilson, 351,354. 
Roper Lumber and Box 

company, 374. 
Rowan, James, 241. 
John, 241. 
Thomas, 241. 
Rowlandson, Joseph, 
14, 18, 27, 29. 
Mrs., 324, 345. 
Royal E.xchange Tav- 
ern, 26. 
Rozer, Robert, 83, 97, 

203, 204, 234. 
RuGG, Amos, 231. 
David, 228, 231. 
George, 217. 
Joseph,77,78, 87, 130, 

138, 139, 180, 183. 
Reuben, 58. 
RuGGLES, Timothy, 56, 

57, 201, 240, 356. 
Russell, Charles, 191, 
192, 199, 214, 361, 

364- 
Charles T., 402. 
John, 85, 90, 246, 356, 

357- 
Rev. Joseph, 161, 162, 

167. 
Thomas H., 326. 
Rutland, East Wing, 8, 

22. 
Indian massacres, 24, 

66. 
name, 17. 



426 



Index 



Rutland, plan, 20. 
records, 30, 402. 

Salter, William, 27, 30. 
Samson, John, 36. 
Sanatorium, 380. 
Sanborn, Henry F., 193. 
Sargent, Amos, 189, 
213, 225, 244. 
Daniel, 86, 234. 
Elizabeth, 139, 143. 
Epes, 61. 
Joseph, 89, 156, 226, 

246, 355. 356. 
Joseph Jr.; 224. 
Savage, Abraham, 203, 
204, 225. 
Edward, 294, 297. 
Jacob, 205, 225. 
Seth, 83, 87, 196, 203, 
204, 212, 218, 234, 
236. 
Savery, Thomas, 231. 
Sawen, Ezekiel, 85, 234. 
Joel, 225, 228, 231. 
John, 172. 
Jm 234. 
Paul, 172. 
Sawyer, Elisha, 70. 
Evander E., 266. 
James, 231, 238. 
Rev. Porter R., 177. 
Schools, 4. 
expenses, 211. 
first, 205. 
houses, 206. 
items, 213, 214. 
location, 215. 
School Grants, 215, 216. 
Superintendents, 217. 
School master, first, 

200. 
ScHULTZE, Ernest, 266. 
Scott, Isaac E., 266. 

John, 34, 55. 
Seats in meeting house, 

132. 
Sewall, Joseph, 118. 
Samuel, 17, 18, 30. 
Sever, Asabel R., 172. 
Shays rebellion, 246. 
Sheldon, Edward W., 

364- 
Sherman, Charles, 266. 



Silver service, 147. 
Silverthorne, Rev. 

William, 177, 
Simons, Lois, 172. 
Situation, i. 
Skinner, Antemas H., 
266. 

Charles E., 266. 

Charles P., 197, 198. 

Ephraim, 204. 

G. O., 191-193. 359- 

Harlow, 174, 190, 193, 

197. 198. 
Thomas H., 193, 198, 

199. 
William, 83, 203, 234. 
Smith, Addison, 193, 
198. 
Amasa, 354. 
Benjamin, 225. 
Braddyl, 96. 
Chandler, 173, 214. 
Charles, 173. 
Cyrus, 357, 358. 
David F., 198, 361. 
Ebenezer, 191, 192. 
Ephraim, 225. 
Francis H., 197, 198, 

266. 
Hugh, 234. 
George, 94, 97, 100, 

203, 205. 
Isaac, 86. 
John, 266. 
Jonas, 89, 196, 212, 

213. 258. 
Jonathan, 83, 203. 
Joseph, 85. 
Nathan, 83, 87, 88, 

203, 225. 
William, 213. 
Snow, John, 57. 

Warren, 83, 203. 
Soil, 3. 

Solomon, Peter, 231. 
Sosowonow, Indian, 14. 
South Wachusett brook, 

2. 
Southerly district, 203. 
Sparhawk, Nathan, 

226. 
Spooner, Joshua, 57. 
Spring, Amos, 36, 77, 
96, 183, 225, 234. 



Spring, Henry, Jr., 36, 
96. 
James, 77. 
Jonathan, 96. 
Thomas, 234. 
Stage lines, 360. 
Stairs in meeting house, 

32. 
Standley, Ichabod, 83, 

203, 224, 225. 
State reservation, 2. 
Stearns, Benjamin, 231, 
241. 
Eli, 225, 231. 
Jonas, 88. 
William, 172. 
Stevens, Cyprian, 14, 
18, 27-30. 
Fred R., 199. 
Isaac, 66. 

Jacob, 19, 21, 27, 29. 
Jonas, 86. 
Joseph, 66. 
Rev. Nathaniel F., 

177. 
Phineas, 68. 
Stevens farm, 65. 
Stevenson, Samuel, 190, 
193, 213, 240, 361, 

364- 
Stewart, John, 231. 

Joseph M., 197. 
Stickney, Moses, 225. 
Stiles, Joshua, 225, 231, 
Stillriver, 2. 
Stimpson, J. H., 199. 
Stocks, 160. 
Stoddard, Anthony, 30. 
Stone, Rev. William R. 

177. 
Stoughton, William, 12. 
Stove in meeting house, 

134. 165. 
Stoves, 206. 
Stratton, Isaac, 83,202, 

234- 
Jabez, 77, 202, 225. 
John, 215. 

Samuel, 87, 190, 212, 
231. 
Streams, 2. 

Street lighting, 5, 368. 
Stuart, Benjamin, 172. 
B. & Son, 373. 



Index 



427 



Stuart, James, 242, 243. 

Ralph Rice, 172. 
Study, course of, 16. 
St. George, Alexander, 

198, 199. 364- 

Suit against town, 156. 

Summit House, 354. 

Summer resort, Prince- 
ton as a, 350. 

Sumner, Daniel, 83, 96, 
196, 204, 225. 
Joel, 232. 

Sunset rock, 126. 

Supplies for pulpit, 157, 
158. 

Supplies for soldiers, 
238-240. 

SuMPAUGE pond, 15. 

Surface, i. 

Sweeney, James, 266. 

Symonds, I., 213. 

Tablet, memorial, 268, 

269. 
Tainter, Benjamin, 83, 
130, 190, 196, 234. 

Joseph, 143. 
Tame, Joseph, 242, 243. 
Taverns, 355. 
Ta\xor, Ezra, 52. 

William, 19, 27, 29. 
Tax list, 88. 
Teachers, 209, 210. 
Telephone service, 5, 

368. 
Temperature, 3. 
Temple, Charles B., 192. 

John H., 373. 

Joshua, 190. 

Lydia, 177. 

Samuel, 240. 

Willard, 359. 
Terrill, Joseph, 266. 
Thacher, John, 234. 

Obediah, 83, 86, 88, 
234. 244. 

Thomas, 234. 

Rev. Peter, 154. 
Thaxter, Samuel, 47. 
Third church edifice, 

170. 
Th DMAS, saiah, 376. 
Thompson, A. G., 191, 
193. 198- 



Thompson, Charles H., 

191. 193- 
Frederick G., 267, 268. 
Isiiac, 83, 86, 203, 213, 

225, 228, 236. 
Isaac ¥., 350, 351. 
James, 77, 78, 94, 97, 

100, 126, 180, 185, 

232, 241, 297. 
John, 90. 
Josei)h, 235. 
Samuel, 224, 232, 287. 
William, 190, 193, 201, 

203, 204, 220, 222, 

356- 
Tillotson, Jonathan 

Jr., 232, 238. 
Title worthless, 16. 
Tilton, Joseph, 86. 
TORGER, Orvin L., 267. 
Torrey, William, 69. 
Tower, Ambrose, 83, 96. 

Isaac, 235. 

Jeduthan, 235. 

Jonathan, 235. 

Joseph, 83, 96. 
Town erected, 104. 
Town, meetings, 134. 

number of, 199. 

fund, 179. 

officers, 189-199. 
Townsend, Penn, 28, 30. 

Peter, IQ. 
Training land, 223. 
Trask, Indian, 14. 

John, 225, 232, 238. 
Treadaway, Benjamin, 

225, 232. 
Treating, 259. 
Trowbridge, John, 361. 
TwEDEL, Edward, 267. 
TuTTLE, F. L., 199. 

Joseph, 196. 

Underwood, Israel, 86. 

Joseph, 83. 

Lois, 321. 
Union Congregational 

Church, 170. 
Universalists, 178. 

Valuations, 6. 
Vance? 

Vanes, William, 232. 
? William, 232. 



Vaudreil, Gov., 63. 
Vinton, Rev. Porter M., 

VosE, John, 193. 

Wachusett mountain, 

I- 324- 

Wachusett Mountain 
Company, 325, 354. 

Wachusett pond, 2. 

Wachusett House, 350. 

Waldo, Cornelius, 28, 29. 
Samuel, 28, 30. 

Wales, Abigail, 85. 

Walker, Rev. John, 174. 

Walton, C. S., 191. 
Mary (Brown) Bart- 
lett, 215. 

Wananacampan, In- 
dian, 14. 

Ward, Nahum, 47. 

Ware river, 2. 

Warner, M. H., 364. 

Watson, Jacob W., 167, 
190, 359- 
John, 86, 89, 165, 190, 
212, 213, 215, 247. 
John W., 178, 192, 

193. 197- 

William A., 267. 

William W., 197. 
Watson's Quarter, 212. 
Watertown Farms, 34. 
Way, Frank, 215. 
Welch, Henry H., 267. 

J. Wilder, 267. 
West, Benjamin, 294. 

Ellen, 215. 

Sarah A., 301. 
Wetherbee, George F., 

364- 
Jonathan Z., 191, 193. 
Josiah, Jr., 83. 
Wheeler, Adam, 250. 
Ephraim, 83, 94, 97. 
Isaac, 77, 78, 83, 94, 
97, 100, 180, 185, 
218, 235. 
Isaac Jr., 94, 100, 180. 
Whitaker, VVilliam, 85, 

87, 163, 232. 
Whitcomb, Asa, 41, 87, 
190, 192, 235, 336. 
John, 88. 125, 184. 



428 



Index 



Whitcomb, Joseph, 191- 

193. 198, 364- 
J. Anson, 198. 
Warren H., 364. 
William H., 267. 
White, Benjamin, 242, 

243- 
Rev. Charles A., 171. 
George E., 267. 
John, 30. 
Joseph, 19. 
S., 103. 
Whitney, Andrew, 85, 

89, 190, 212, 213, 

235, 236, 244. 
Augustine, 267. 
Edward C, 352. 
Harry C, 352. 
John, 178, 192, 194, 

197, 199, 240. 
Jonathan, 192. 
Joseph, 225. 
Samuel, 232. 
Silas, 83, 96, 183. 
Whittaker, Charles A., 

191. 352. 
Whitteker, William, 

224, 228, 244. 
Whittelow, Mathew, 

232, 238. 
Whittemore, Isaac, 96. 

Jeremiah, 36, 96. 
Whitten, Matthew, 232. 
Whittier's poem on 

Monadnock, 348- 

349- 
Wickes, Rev. Henry, 

171. 
Wilcox, Benjamin F., 

267. 
Wild animals, 4. 
Wilde, Abigail, 90. 
Wilder, Elisha, 83, 96, 

138, 140, 201, 204, 

224, 232. 



Wilder, Ivory, 358, 364. 

Jonas, 226. 

Jonathan, lOl, 336. 

Joseph, 49, lOi. 

Joshua, 71, 72, 76, 77. 

Louisa, 143. 

Mark, 198. 

Mehitable, 139, 141. 

Nahum, 190, 197, 205, 
213. 

Thomas, 190, 192. 
Wilder's farm, 71. 
Wilds, Elijah, 244. 
WiLLARD, Aaron, 244. 

Adam, 19, 26, 27. 

Artemas, 85, 244. 

Benjamin, 14, 18, 64, 

83. 
Brothers, 14. 
Daniel, 18, 27. 
Elizabeth, 19. 
Henry, 14, 18, 27. 
John, 18, 27, 29. 
Jonathan, 18. 
Joseph, 18, 27, 28, 30, 

61-63. 
Josiah, 18, 27, 30, 71. 
Mary, 19, 27. 
Phineas, 58. 
Samuel, 26, 28, 129. 
Sarah, 19. 
Simon, 17, 18, 27, 30, 

34- 
Solomon, 86. 
Willard's farm, 61, 62 

WiLLINGS, Rev. 

158. 
Wilson, Benjamin, 38 
83, 94, 97, 100, 201 
204. 
Edward, 38, 39, 83 

loi, 183, 201. 
Ephraim, 87, 89, 162 

235- 
George W., 267. 



Wilson, Hamilton, 192. 

Louis, 87. 

White E., 213. 

Dr. , 168. 

Winn, Edward P., 267. 
Willett, Hannah, 28. 
Winship, Charles N., 

267, 364. 
Winslow, Edward, 43. 

Isaac, 30. 
Winthrop, Adam, 30. 

John, 10. 
Winthrop's Journal, 9. 
Wiser, Indian, 14. 
Woodland Cottage, 353. 
Woodlawn Cemetery, 

371- 
Woods, Mrs. Edwin, 
402. 
Leonard, 212. 
Otis, 193. 
Robert Jr., 218. 
• Samuel, 83, 87, 88, 
156, 192, 202, 220, 
232, 258. 
Woodson, Ephraim, 

246, 247. 
Woodward, Jason, 240. 
Woodward Swamp, 21. 
Wooley, David, 87, 225. 

Joseph, 202. 
Woolson, Edward, 232. 
Ephraim, 83, 133, 158, 
190, 191, 193, 202, 
219, 239, 356, 357. 
Work, Robert, 83, 94. 
Wosley, Joseph, 83. 
Wright, Samuel, 21, 22. 
Wyman, Charles, 83, 203. 
John, 232,238. 
Levi, 225, 228, 232, 

238. 
Thomas, 85, 244. 

Zelie, Rev. John S., 171. 



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